All you engaged ladies out there, do not miss this Bride’s advice below! From stocking up on Vitamin C to dancing til your dress is dirty, I’m pretty sure she figured out the priorities we all should be keeping in mind. Her Big Day was filled with these sorts of highlights and This Love Of Yours Photography captured them all in this gorgeous gallery. So pour some OJ and settle in for some treats below.
From The Bride… For my wedding day I quickly began to envision a day full of what I would call “rustic elegance.” I am obsessed with mixing old weathered vintage inspired items with beautiful classic design elements. The mix of hard and soft was what I thought would look the most beautiful on our wedding day. I envisioned a beautiful sunny day surrounded by lush fall vineyards and greenery. I wanted everyone attending our wedding to feel like they were at our home, I wanted people to see our style and feel like they were right in our very own backyard. I wanted everyone to feel like every part of the wedding was “Andie and Nick,” that we choose what we chose because it meant something to us as a couple. I envisioned the day being overly personal and we wanted our wedding to be unique and different compared to your typical traditional wedding. We envisioned a beautiful sunny fall day with the views of orange, yellow, and greenery every which way you looked, and that is exactly what we got.
The most memorable part of the day was being able to stand in front of all our closest friends and family and finally marry Nick. The day from start to finish was more than we could have ever imagined. The ceremony was full of so much emotion and I truly believe every single person felt exactly how both our hearts felt about each other. We exchanged personal stories instead of writing our own vows and it added such a fun personal touch to the ceremony. We were both overwhelmed with emotion when we listened to what we both had to say about the past four years of our lives. The personal touches that our officiant added to the ceremony made it the perfect most memorable part of the day. The entire wedding day was so memorable. We spent so much time designing every little aspect and creating it all to be the perfect day that we would never forget. Another unforgettable moment of our wedding was when my Maid of Honor rapped her speech to “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” theme song. It was also very memorable when my mom surprised me by bringing my grandpas (he passed away) old gardening journals that were so special to him. She set them out on our welcome table as decorations and at the moment our wedding was complete.
I loved Vine Hill House because it had everything that we were looking for. It had gorgeous views of rolling vineyards, it was all outside, it had a rustic vibe, it had gorgeous redwood trees, and it was landscaped immaculately. It had so many different elements of nature that we love. It’s hard to find a venue with that mix of different things. From the moment you drive through the big iron gates at the venue you feel relaxed. The beauty of the surroundings are overwhelming and you can’t help but feel right at home. The moment I saw the venue and saw the garden engulfed in hydrangeas (my favorite flower) I knew it was the one.
It was also very important to us that everyone had a good time. In order to ensure that everyone had a blast it was a must to have an open bar, amazing food, a view that took your breath away, good music, a whiskey bar, dance floor glow sticks, and lots of unique desert options. It was important to us that our wedding day wasn’t to “matchy matchy.” We had so much fun being creative with colors and made sure everything was perfectly mismatched. It was important to us to give our wedding party the freedom to be who they are. The bridesmaids chose their dress styles, hair styles, shoes, and jewelry. The groomsmen chose ties, socks, and shoes. It was very important to me that both my dad and my step dad be able to walk me down the aisle. I was lucky enough to grow up with two amazing dads and it was very important to me that they both have their “father of the bride” moments at the wedding. They both walked me down the aisle, they both got to speak, and they both had a first dance. It was very important to me that every person in my “modern family” felt more than special on our wedding day. It was also important me to make my mom and step mom feel just as important as my dad’s. I included a dance with my mom and dedicated a special song to my step mom. Our photographers were the perfect match for us as a couple. They captured every single part of the wedding. Our photographer’s romantic, whimsical style was exactly what we were looking for. As a couple we really love “different” photography, we have never been fans of posed, stagnant photography because we just find it boring. With This Love of Yours we got the uniqueness in photography that we were looking for. The way that they use lighting in their photography is what really made my heart flutter.
My advice to bride-to-be’s is to sit back and get lost. Get lost in all the gorgeousness that comes along with weddings. Find what your wedding style is and embrace every aspect of it. Take time a find out what you feel is the most beautiful and most important aspect of your day and spend the most time on those areas. Spend time dreaming before you get bogged down with the crazy details. Make it personal to you and your fiancé. Make your wedding day an extension of your home decor style and you’re bound to be in love with your day. Also don’t forget to take lots of Vitamin C leading up to the wedding because you don’t realize how depleted your body may be. Make sure you have a few moments alone on your wedding day with your husband to sit back together and take it all in. I would also recommend slowly working on wedding design items. Commit to completing a few projects a month leading up to the wedding to ensure you’re not stressed by the time the wedding comes. Make a list of your favorite things as a couple and then find a way to incorporate them into your wedding. The personal touches are what make the day unforgettable. Weddings don’t have to be expensive. Our local flea market is where I found the bulk of our wedding decor items. Consider doing a first look. I loved that we were able to get most of the photos done before the wedding to ensure that we had time to enjoy the whole reception. Make sure to find ways to make your mom feel extra special on this day. Without her none of this day would have even happened. Don’t forget to dance your wedding dress filthy, after all you only have one day to wear it. Last but not least HAVE FUN. Don’t be afraid to do it your way and let your personalities shine through in all your wedding day choices.
Photography: This Love of Yours Photography | Wedding Dress: JLM Couture, Inc | Cake: Oliver's Market Bakery | Brides Shoes: Rebecca Minkoff | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Watters | Catering: Oui Cater | Makeup: Designs By Janet Suzanne | Hair: Haute Mess Hair | Groom's Attire: J. Ferrar | Wedding Venue: Vine Hill House | Bridesmaids' Robes: Silk And More | Cake Topper: Etsy | Centerpieces: Save On Crafts | Flower Crown: The Petal Company | Groom's Shoes: Banana Republic | Groom's Tie: Tux And Tulle | Invitation And Programs: Howl Creative Co. | Wedding Dress Belt And Hanger: BHLDN