Drinkin', Dancing & Speechifyin'

It was a wonderful wedding for so many reasons. I love the bride and groom very much and have for a long time so seeing them make it official with a weekend full of personal touches was...well, wonderful. They held their shindig outside of Boston in a picturesque spot surrounded by woods. It was a big white hostel with big hills to roll or run down.

About 30 of us including the bride and groom stayed on site. It was fun, like summer camp, but with grown ups. There were kids both Isaac and Riley's age there too. The morning of the wedding there was a big, big breakfast and then everyone pitched in setting things up. After breakfast they had lawn games and everyone had a chance to mingle.

The ceremony backdrop was breathtaking:


Instead of choosing two wedding colors they choose the whole rainbow. It was a colorful event in every sense of the word.


They wrote their own vows and bound themselves with brightly colored pieces of fabric that guests had written one word wishes for their marriage on. It was a brief and delightful ceremony.

Then it was off to the tent to party. We had a buffet of barbecue treats for dinner complete with cornbread and mac and cheese. At which which point as the bride and groom had so decreed there was much "drinkin', dancin' and speechifyin'".

It was an amazing night and quite a party. Everyone, especially the kids, cut a rug at every opportunity. They guests really celebrate(unlike the guests at our Wednesday night wedding would fled early) no one wanted it to end. Which is saying a lot because I was up at 5am that morning. Lovely, lovely wedding. Despite the challenges (ahem Riley & Isaac this glare is for you) it was a wonderful, memorable, fun wedding.

Other Weddings at Our Venue

Swept Away Studios This my favorite picture at Sunken Gardens hands down!

It's that gorgeous? This photographer has some beautiful stuff. This is my favorite of this wedding, but I also really like the one looking up from the hearts on the sidewalk. I've never noticed any hearts so I'm wondering if those are sidewalk chalk? Cool idea. She also got lots of beautiful pictures of the couples through the trees. They had their whole wedding at SG just like we will. Also, how did they get permission for sparklers? Unless the rule changed after their wedding... They didn't cover the frames or decorate the pillar. Which was the case with most of the weddings I found.

My second overall favorite group of wedding photos from our venue was from Loving Legacy Photography Here's my favorite shot:

This is the stage with the cool old tree growing out of it that I LOVE. This bride did all her group shots there, great minds. Mike informed me that the took the tree out, bummer! Beautiful first look shots too! Unfortunately this couple partied post nuptials at a hotel so I didn't get any reception decor inspiration from them.

This one is from P.L. Carrillo Photography

While I found most of these wedding pictures to be a little boring, I really like this shot. Adding cave picture to my must take photo list for sure. So, pretty! There are so many great spots for pictures I'm getting so excited. This couple dressed up their Garden Room Reception with rented lights. They chose not to cover the frames either. Although they turned the sconces off.

This one is by Maria Angela Photography Must find cool old gate!

This was another wedding where it was really hard to pick a favorite! I also LOVE the one of the bride and groom under the vines. So neat. They really wondered around for their photos and made the most of the gardens. I also love their pictures because besides being awesome they were one of the only evening weddings I found. They used the Garden Room, but they only draped fabric from the ceiling. Interesting effect, but I doubt, if we do our job, guests will be looking up.

This one's from Stephanie A. Smith Photography

This is lovely! I hope I can work out the time line so we can hang my dress from the trees. They had a small outdoor reception so no decor inspiration from them. Again they left to guests waving sparklers...hmmm...

Hilary Mercer Photography I don't think this beautiful tree is anywhere near our ceremony site, but what a great picture.

We've definitely picked the right venue. So many must take photo spots! I'm still completely in love with our photographer even after letting myself scroll through photography blogs all day. I also feel that even if we only have our centerpieces on white tables cloths (Mike's vision is much grander) the reception will be beautiful.

True Blue

Other People's Weddings: Jassandra & Kevin

Quick sidebar here: A) The next wedding I attended chronologically was Ryan and Rebekah's. It was lovely, but it was my first outing post major back surgery and I'm too hazy on the details to do it justice. Love you guys! B) I did not attend this wedding physically, but I was there in spirit. So, play on.

Mike and the groom were childhood friends who lost touch and found each other again on the internet. Just like Mike and I. As fate would have it they were marrying in October so I started chatting wedding planning with the bride. Viola, we're all friends now. I digress the wedding was held at the Groom's childhood home, don't you love that?

The bride wore a short, chic white dress with a blue sash. She also had a beautiful hair clip with a blingy white flower and blue feathers. By far my favorite accessory was her signature blue heels, amazing. If I could walk in them I'd totally own a pair. The groom and his boys wore gray suits. I love gray suits. They had the ceremony out on the dock. They I do-ed before an intimate group of family and friends.

The backyard was strung with white Christmas lights, don't you love those? I'm so jealous I can't put lights in the trees at my venue. It's such a romantic look. The centerpieces and bouquets were white daisies, you can't go wrong with daisies. Guest dined on a home cooked buffet of Cuban food lovingly prepared by the bride's family. After dinner there was not only a lovely 3-tiered white cake with blue ribbon embellishment and a silver monogram atop it, but a surprise Tardis grooms cake as well. Always embrace the nerd in your groom (& yourself for that matter).

After dinner guests danced the night away while the DJ played. When they couldn't dance another step the bride and groom were off to their honeymoon suite on the beach before departing for the their honeymoon cruise.

Hopp-ily Ever After

Love Boat

Other People's Weddings: Pete and Jess

They gave us all the gift of a little pre-Thanksgiving vacation last year. We shipped out for a week to celebrate their union. Wedding and honeymoon in one what an efficient couple. It was my first cruise ever and I was pretty excited. Now having done it once with the whole family (the kids were 14mo and almost 8yr) I can't wait to do one just Mike and I someday.

They originally planned to cruise to Mexico and marry on the beach. When things got complicated they decided to marry in the ships chapel the second day and spend the rest of the trip enjoying their honeymoon. Good plan. A wedding at sea, so romantic. The ceremony was in the ship's chapel it was decorated in white (white candles, white flowers, etc). It was an intimate room especially compared with the rest of the ship. Pete wore a white linen shirt with a white rose boutonniere. The bride who I've rarely seen in a dress looked stunning. Her gown had beautiful sparkly embellishment under the bust line and she carried white roses. By far my favorite was her veil trimmed with sparkle, gorgeous. After a brief, entertaining and emotional ceremony we went to the piazza deck for pictures.

We took a brief intermission back to the room while the bride and groom took pictures around the ship. After that we headed to the reception at a bar on the other side of the boat. There were plenty of drinks, laughter, cake and pictures, but no dancing. We had a really good time. It seems more and more couples are foregoing the dancing these days. It's good to be happy and comfortable at your own wedding. Or course all the kids did their fair share of dancing in the piazza during pictures.

It was our first vacation with Riley and I was so grateful that we got our ducks in a row to attend considering small children and looming hip surgery. I also got to dress up and get all pretty for the first time since being on bed rest. It was so needed. Since the couple was sweet enough to marry early in the trip we even made it off the boat a few times to explore. Once to tour Mayan ruins in Mexico and again in Honduras for a birds eye view of all that beauty. Lovely.

It was a singular experience. I got to see two people I care about promise to be together forever and I saw the sun set in Mexico.

Wedded on the Waves

Ring Pillow for Jasandra

Materials

• The ring pillow from Sandy's wedding
• Blue ribbon
• Fabric scissors
• Tiny sewing scissors
• Hot glue gun/needle and thread

Yes, my maid of honor gave me her ring pillow knowing I would take it apart and at least change the ribbon. Turns out this little pillow will get at least two make overs. Yeah, recycled wedding stuff! So, it was super simple because Jasandra liked the button that was already on the pillow. I only needed to switch out the ribbon.

Here's the orginal pillow


Here's a close-up on the button which is a pearl with a silver design around it. J's colors are blue and silver so it worked out nicely.

Here's the transformation.

It's much prettier in person. I just cut off all the sage ribbon with fabric scissors. I also had to snip a stitch in the center of the pillow. I removed the "button" from the ribbon. It turned out it was a craft embellishment so there was no loop in back which was good. It was flat and I like the people who made the pillow was going to hot glue it back on. Then Mike helped me trim the remaining bits of sage ribbon at the seams with sewing scissors. I wrapped the blue ribbon around the pillow Christmas gift style. I tied it in a bow and considered bunching the bow up, but ended up really liking it with the bow (I hope she does). If not I can change it. Then I added the "button" and secured the whole thing with some inconspicuous hot glue placement. Viola!

A New Deal

Other People's Weddings: Sandy and Joe

Now, I loved this wedding and part of it was that it gave me an excuse to break several months of bed rest to be there. I was so glad to make it out and it wasn't a moment too soon because I gave birth to Riley the next day!

It was downtown in the Lyceum (a historical old building that used to be a library/lecture hall) and inside for a change! Howdy, air conditioning the hormonal and pregnant salute you. I also have to say I wore my bridesmaids dress from Lara and Daniel's wedding mostly because it's pretty and a little because it was the only thing that fit! So, way to go Lara you actually picked a dress that could and did get worn again.

The bride looked stunning in a Demetrios gown. She wore her hair down in soft curls. She was breathtaking which was expected, but considering she lost a dear love one that morning, quite the accomplishment.

A friend of the couple preformed a brief and meaningful ceremony against the backdrop of the beautiful proscenium arch. After which there was a cocktail hour downstairs in the lounge. There were tons of hor derves. I haven't got the foggiest whether it was an an open bar (I was 8mo pregnant), but everyone seemed in a party mood. The staff was super accommodating and even though it was an old building they managed to get me where I needed to be just fine.

There was music playing during cocktail hour, I think. Nothing that disrupted all the conversation. I was happily eating and aside from a few rambunctious under dressed children I had a very pleasant time despite being it being the eve of Riley's birth.

I did stop eating long enough to take some pictures with Mike in the photo booth. I have to say those are some of my all time favorite pictures of us. They gave us two copies of the four photos and a clear frame to hold them. Mine are still (almost two years later) displayed on my desk.

The reception was held in the same room as the ceremony. It really is a cool old building. Dinner was great, again plenty of food (which is a big compliment from a hugely pregnant guest). I remember their first dance was to a slow acoustic version of Happy Together which was just one of many unique music choices. It was a fun night.

Probably a little too fun because about 12hours later I was having a baby. It was soooo worth it! Thank you, Deals.

Warning: Having Too Much Fun May Result in Labor

DIY and Family Ties

Other People's Weddings: Lara & DJ

Lara and Daniel were married on May 15th, the anniversary of the brides' grandparents' wedding. They had an outdoor ceremony officiated by the bride's uncle and an indoor reception catered by another of the bride's uncles. The bride did a lot of DIY projects as well as incorporating family for her big day.

She and her mother altered her gown themselves in the style of Monique Lhuilier. It was breath taking. The bride hand painted the invitations with water colors and the bride's mother drew custom maps to accompany them. The bride also made the flower girl dresses. The couple exchanged wedding bands that had once belonged to the bride's parents.

The six month planning period was a restart of planning that had started years before. The bride decided to set priorities rather than a budget for her wedding with 75 guests at the St. Petersburg Woman's Club. For example, she asked five different friends to snap pictures instead of hiring a professional and ended up with hundreds of beautiful shots.

Some of her plans derailed during the chaos on the day of. Several items didn't make it to the venue including her veil that had to be replaced last minute. Her DIY photo booth that did make it to the venue was never set up, but overall the event ran smoothly. She shined in her gown and was very pleased with her vegetarian reception spread. I was pregnant at the time and one of my only complaints would have been not enough food. I suppose feeding 75 guests on a budget, without meat is tricky.

The bride's only regret was not designating an MC for the evening to keep things moving along and make sure the appropriate MP3 was playing. She also speculated that having a day of coordinator would have lightened her load quite a bit. Having one person checking in instead a handful would have made it more relaxing for her. I agree on both points whole heartedly! When the ceremony ended Lara changed out of her gown and into jeans and begun cleaning up her own wedding! I don't think that should ever be the case. A little delegation would have gone a long way towards ending the evening in bridal glow rather then cleaning lady style.

They started their lives together surrounded by things they made themselves and in the company of loving and actively participating friends and family.

A Family Affair

Umbrellas on the Beach

Other People's Weddings: Dad and Joanne

It was the second marriage for them both so they kept it simple. They chose a June wedding on the beach. I believe there were ten of us including the officiant and the bride and groom. It ended up being a stormy day and we were a small group huddled under umbrellas on the beach. After their intimate ceremony we drove over to a restaurant and all had dinner together.

I loved the intimacy of the small group. I thought sharing umbrellas only made it more so. I don't remember any of the words they spoke, but I remember feeling moved and a good bit of laughter. I think the laughter had something to do with wet sand complications during the sand ceremony. I also liked Joanne's dress. I have a picture of it, but I'm on a loaner computer for now. It was a short white dress with a subtle red floral design. My dad wore a Hawaiian shirt with dress pants. It was very beachy causal.

I remember that it was a pretty nice restaurant we went to, but nothing about the food. I'm sure it was good. I'm pretty open minded myself and I knew their wedding would be low key, but when dinner ended and everyone left I felt sad. There had been no cake, no dancing, no happy send off. They spent their honeymoon at a hotel on the beach within walking distance of the restaurant so a send off wasn't necessary. I'm sure my dad was more than relieved not to have a first dance. I just felt like I wanted more wedding stuff.

I don't think hospitable weather would have made it any better. I have a feeling it was exactly the day they both pictured. No fuss. Just a meaningful exchange of vows and dinner with friends. Small weddings definitely give you a sense of being a VIP. It was also the first wedding Mike and I went to together so it's a warm fuzzy memory.

Sweet Small Seaside Ceremony