In wedding-blogger-land, there is nothing better…I repeat, nothing better…than a bride who doesn’t take herself too seriously. A bride that isn’t afraid to throw a little Carrie Bradshaw into them mix and design a wedding with totally unexpected style. Such is the case for this next little number. The bride is one part fun, one part fabulous and the day that she and her hubby crafted…well, it’s total SMP bliss. Photographed by Meg Smith, this wedding shows you what happens when you infuse your party with a little bit of spunk. Click here to see even more.
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Julie never imagined she would be getting married, let alone dreaming about a wedding – that’s too girly for her. She didn’t believe that any successful and self-content women would ever need a man to complete her life. A self-proclaimed feminist, Julie advocated for women’s rights and vowed to fight against any injustice that’s brought upon women. She hated labels, because she refused to belong to anyone or anything, and no one could ever define her identity except for herself. She lived by the motto of “Well-behaved women rarely made history”, and she was independent, out-spoken, and feisty. Well, things somehow changed after she met Kelvin.
The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Kelvin was changing jobs and Julie was finishing up her degree. They just got some extra time to spend with each other. The DC/NYC trips happened almost every weekend and they spent every possible second with each other. Just when everything went very well, fate had its way of testing people. Julie’s departure was almost unexpected. And this time, she moved away to Taiwan. Without knowing what would lie in the future, Kelvin just wouldn’t let her say goodbye like that. So, they started a seemingly impossible long distance relationship. The distance was not an issue at all, it turned out. Being apart from each other, the relationship only grew stronger each day. They would talk and talk more, and realize, they needed to make a plan. Long distance relationship wasn’t all that hard when there was a goal, a plan. So they did.
Kelvin presented a proposal so promising that Julie was totally willing to give up her career entirely in Taiwan. He wanted to start a family with her. After 2.5 years of a long distance relationship, they graduated with honor and were ready to move on to the next stage of their lives, together.
Julie and Kelvin’s ceremony was sweet and simple. The most important element of their ceremony was the support and love from their family and friends. Since their wedding theme was Rustic Chic, they wanted everyone to enjoy an evening full of delicious food from local farms and Sonoma Valley wines. The reception was indoors in a charming barn, looking out to the vineyards under the star-lit sky.
Wedding Photography: Meg Smith Photography / Floral Design: Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants / Event Planning & Design: Julie Atwood Events / Wedding Location: Atwood Ranch / Caterer: Sage Catering / Event Lighting: Twilight Design / Artisan Mixology: BBC (Best Beverage Catering) / Linens: La Tavola / Event Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Propping & Styling: Julie Atwood Events / Vintage Vehicles: Atwood Ranch / Wedding Gown: Jim Hjelm / Reception Dress: Custom by Kelima K / Headpiece & Veil: Etsy / Bride’s Shoes: Ann Taylor / Necklace: South Moon Under / Bridesmaid Dresses: ModCloth / Bridesmaid Accessories: Anthropologie / Groom’s Suit: Custom by Tom James / Groom’s Tie: Hermes / Groomsmen Ties: Nordstrom / Cufflinks: Cufflinks Depot / Wedding Invitations & Paper Products: The Aerialist Press