It’s whimsical romance all the way at this chic California wedding. From the luggage card escort card display to the bright and colorful reception, Something Blue Productions beautifully brought our couple’s wedding vision to life. Free-flowing floral arrangements by Tumbleweed Floral Design are a feast for the eyes, and Kelsey Cowley elegantly captures the love and the joy of the day in her imagery. Visit the full gallery for a closer look at all the lovely.
From the bride… We met on a November day, and it felt right to celebrate our wedding on a dreamy November day. Little did we know that the weather would more than cooperate, and provide the perfect setting for our big day. We wanted to create a celebration that reflected us – with vibrancy, joy, and fun. Whilst the Carmel Valley offered a picturesque backdrop and a nestled getaway for our guests, we were excited to incorporate pieces that reflected our own love for the bright and colorful. As a visual designer, I was excited to design (with Something Blue Productions) our own wedding suite that told the story of us. This included papers and artifacts that were simple and thoughtful, like custom luggage tags for our guests as they traveled from near and far, and signage that welcomed guests in our native languages. We thought of our wedding as an experience for our friends and family as much as for ourselves, from their entry with the venue’s olive trees and fragrant lavender bushes to refreshing welcome drinks, a vintage typewriter for them to type sweet notes, and lawn games set up for guests to enjoy and relax! Our ceremony and reception were filled with colorful florals (Tumbleweed Floral Design) that captured the bride’s love for fresh, bright, and wild California flowers accented with a dreamy blue ribbon in her favorite shade.
The bridesmaids were outfitted in their own selection of dresses in blush shades, reflecting each of their own styles. The grooms wore navy suits and brown ties (Suit Supply), a nod to the fact that this indeed was still a California autumn wedding after all. Our backgrounds are important to us, and we wanted to honor that by traditional wedding attire and through music choices. The music surrounding the day ranged from our first dance ‘May I have this Dance’ by Frances and the Lights to a night that included nods to K-pop and Afro-pop in addition to the bride and groom’s varied taste in music. Our outfits also transformed throughout the day, from our classic bridal wedding dress and tuxedo (Unveiled Bridal San Francisco – Chosen by Kyha and Suit Supply)) during the ceremony that depicted our love for the classic and modern, to our dinner reception in custom-made Korean hanboks in jewel tone shades of royal blue, pink, turquoise, and purple. The bride’s mother, grandfather, and grandmother wore corresponding hanboks. We celebrated the groom’s Nigerian heritage in traditional custom-made attire in royal blue. The traditional aso oke attire included the bride’s ornate gable headpiece, orange and gold beaded jewelry, and the groom’s outer layer agbada. The groom’s family and friends also wore matching traditional attire in royal blue and we kicked off the dancing with an entry and thanksgiving celebration from the groom’s side which led into our grand entrance! The bride’s last dress of the evening was a custom dress (Calle Evans), with details the two collaborated on, like a baroque pearl strap with an asymmetrical drape in an off-white shade. This dress moved as the bride and groom danced with their favorite dance moves and songs surrounded by their friends and family, and late-night French fries. Our wedding was the ultimate occasion of brightness and joy and a reflection of our journey together thus far, and for the years to come.
From AnneMarie at Something Blue Productions… Working with Candice and Tayo to create a day that represented them as a couple and their cultures was incredible! It’s so fun for us when a couple fully trusts our vendor suggestions with things like florals and rentals. We were able to mix in all the best colors, textures, and designs to bring their vision to life!
Photography: Kelsey Cowley | Cinematography: Anna Lord Studio | Event Planning: Something Blue Productions | Floral Design: tumbleweed floral design | Wedding Dress: Unveiled Bridal | Wedding Dress: Chosen by kyha | Cake: Salted Rye | Ceremony Venue: Bernardus Lodge | Reception Venue: Bernardus Lodge | Entertainment: JustIntertainment | Groom's Attire: Suit Supply | Beauty: Hera | Rentals: Chic Event Rentals | Rentals: Pleasanton Rentals | Signage: Boovara Designs
Hard boil or blow out your eggs. (If hard boiled, keep in mind these eggs will not be edible later. If blown out, you will need to place something on top of the bowl to keep the eggs covered in the dye).
Mix equal parts grape juice & vinegar in a bowl, enough to submerge your eggs. Place eggs in the bowl and leave overnight.
The next day, remove eggs from the bowl and rinse off. Use a paper towel to rub away the foamy layer, revealing the marbled surface.
Dip egg partially into a cup of gold paint. Place upside-down in egg carton to dry.
