We’re picking back up with our wedding story today, shot by Jen Huang! If you missed our first post, you can catch up here! Our ever so sweet flower girls were one of my favorite details! With lots of florals and sweet details, these little ones stole the show!
My planner, Cortnie Purdy Fausner, called me up one day while we were planning and had me racing to the computer! She had spied a vintage swan pull toy on Pinterest and as luck would have it, the antique beauty was available for purchase! Without another thought, we nabbed the swan, and coordinated to have it shipped from the seller–in FRANCE! In our email correspondence, the seller told me that they were delighted to send their sweet swan to America, where it would go on new adventures! (The same sweet swan is now sitting in our nursery, waiting for the delivery of our daughter, who is set to arrive at the end of May! The swan is indeed ready for all sorts of new experiences!).
A poster presented all of the groomsmen’s color-coordinated bow ties from The Tie Bar on faux crests. The ties were theirs to keep; they also received copper mugs since as a group they’re known for their fondness for Irish Mules.
For Bryan and his groomsmen, we opted to let the guys pick out their own black suits. With minimal instructions, the gents looked fabulous (and much better than they would have if we had opted for ill fitting rental suits!).
I wanted their boutonnieres to be more unique than the floral standard, and was lucky enough to find these embroidered crests which were the perfect (and low key/affordable!) touch!
My gift to Bryan on our wedding day was a handmade pipe, picked out by our friend who lives in Kentucky! It went perfectly with our favor station that you’ll see later on in today’s feature!
Our bridal party was quite the party, and SO MUCH FUN!
Our ceremony took place in the front of the villa. We decided to start fairly early so we had plenty of time to enjoy our reception. Because we had to bus in our guests over the course of two trips, we provided an heirloom olive bar for snacking, and some fun activities, such as a “Celebration Station” containing a buffet of noisemakers. The wedding programs asked guests to choose their favorite to hoot and holler when we were pronounced husband and wife.
We chose a very hot day in July to get married, and were lucky enough to have nabbed paper parasols from Luna Bazaar. They saved the day!
My aunt and uncle from Georgia were there for the celebration, and we asked my uncle to officiate our formal ceremony. His southern accent was the perfect touch.
To go with the theme of celebration and music, our ring bearers preceded us down the aisle with drums that they played, while our flower girls rang bells down the aisle! My brother-in-law surprised me with a song that he wrote and arranged for the walk down the aisle (my sister walked down to the same song!).
Preceding the vows, our wedding rings were passed along a few yards of green-striped ribbon so that everyone assembled could touch and bless them before they reached the bride and groom. This was a sort of ring warming ceremony, and it worked beautifully! It meant so much to us to have our guests play a small role in the day, and to have the importance of their presence acknowledged.
For our ceremony, we chose the Old English declarations for our vows, and added this Bible verse, which we spoke in unison: “Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, for where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried. May the Lord do so with me and more if anything but death parts you from me.”
Check back in later today for even more from the big day!
Vendors:
Photography: Jen Huang // Location: Sunstone Vineyards & Winery // Event Design: Cortnie Purdy Fausner // Event Coordination: LVL Weddings & Events // Flowers: Lauryl Lane // Stationery: MaeMae & Co. [design]; Gus & Ruby Letterpress [letterpress printing] // Calligraphy: Victoria Hoke Lane // Videography: Elysium Productions // Catering: Roomforty [food]; Straight Up Cocktail Service [cocktail service] // Tabletop Rentals: Borrowed Blu // Furniture Rentals: Found Vintage Rentals // Linens: Napa Valley Linens // Photobooth: Mobile Photobooth // Event Rentals: Signature Party Rentals // Music: Bobbito The Chef // Hair: Beauty-Full by Molly; Lady Dianna // Makeup: Amy Clarke; Beauty by Melina // Donuts: The Donuttery (714-847-7000) // Honeymoon: Ever After Honeymoons
Fashion and Resources:
Gown and veil: Kirstie Kelly // Groom’s Accessories: David Donahue [tie]; AllSaints [shoes] // Groomsmen bow ties: The Tie Bar // Flower girls’ Dresses: Le Petit Tom; Stella McCartney; Nordstrom // Custom Monogram Napkins: Wedding Chicks // Paper parasols: Luna Bazaar // Crest Boutonnieres: Little Pink Studio // Bridesmaid Robes: Plum Pretty Sugar // Swan Planters: Terry’s Village // Paper Bells: Party Pro // Striped Donut Favor Bags: Amazon // Striped cocktail trays: RSF Designs // Striped Bow Bags (bridesmaid gifts): Rectory Crafts