Logan + John’s wedding was inspired by a vacation they took a few years ago to Paris. They wanted their day to feel like the Parisian countryside: beautiful + elegant, but very al fresco. :) The love was truly in the details that Logan, her mom, and her good friend Kristine (who was deemed the “MAWHOAT” – Most Amazing Wedding Helper of All Time) crafted together. From designing and printing the paper goods, to creating a custom monogram, crafting over a hundred and fifty lemonade bottles, collecting countless glass bottles for flowers, calligraphing the seating chart onto vintage mirrors, designing hair accessories for the flower girls, painting and assembling kids’ activity boxes for thirty little ones, and let’s not forget creating (and taste testing!) their signature cocktail – everything was a labor of love. Big congrats to Logan + John and thanks so much to the lovely Ashley Rose Photography for the photos!
Processional: Lullaby (Instrumental) by the Dixie Chicks performed by Supernova Quartet with Soloist Courtney Cash
Recessional: I’m Yours by Jason Mraz performed by Supernova Quartet
First Dance: Sing, Sing, Sing by Benny Goodman
Trees were a large part of our wedding theme: beyond the obvious of having an outdoor venue surrounded with beautiful trees, we had a thumbprint tree ‘guest book’ which was drawn by a close friend of ours, a lemon tree ceremony where John and I poured soil from each of our parents’ gardens into a tiny lemon tree instead of a unity candle ceremony, and so we saw it fitting to involve trees in our favor somehow as well. Our favors were one of our favorite aspects of the wedding: each family received a small envelope with a magnet inside picturing a small child holding a fruit tree and inscribed with our wedding date. With the magnet was a card explaining that a fruit tree had been donated in each family’s honor on behalf of Food for the Poor which is an amazing organization that feeds millions of hungry people in the nations it serves.
We also put a peach, John’s and my favorite fruit as well as a prominent color in our design scheme, at each seat to hold the name cards. Although they were originally just for show, they ended up being a yummy take-home treat that our guests loved as well!
We also both love to travel so we included desserts in our menu that were a reflection of all the places John and I have been together: Coconut Tarts representing Tahiti where we’d been engaged the summer before, Crème Brulee Shot Glasses which was our favorite Parisian dessert, and Passion Fruit Custard Shot Glasses representing Thailand, which is where we went on our honeymoon!
I would have to say dancing to our last song is something I will never forget. At the risk of being cliché, John and I chose Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ to be the final song of the evening and we were so glad we did. John and I met in college through mutual friends and this song was always the last song to be played at the bars we’d go to or the fraternity formals we attended. We knew it would be a hit with our friends, as well as our parents and their friends and it definitely was. Not one person was sitting down: everyone gathered around John and I on the dance floor singing at the top of their lungs (including all four of our parents) and the amount of love we felt surrounded by was absolutely surreal.
Get your hubby-to-be involved! I realize that most men loathe the idea of picking out flowers or color schemes, but try and find things about the planning process that you can enjoy together: for us, this included things like visiting what seemed like countless venues, picking out vintage rental furniture, choosing the groomsmen outfits, and of course, doing tastings for our dessert table! After all, the wedding really isn’t just about the bride (as much as we would sometimes like to think it is!). Lastly, remember to give a little – even if it isn’t exactly what you might want. If you don’t absolutely loathe an idea that someone else involved is really invested in, try and find a way to include it if you can. My mom really wanted to do a slideshow for the father-daughter dance and I initially hated the idea but I eventually agreed and I’m so glad I did because it ended up being one of my favorite parts of the reception and many of our guests even commented on how much they enjoyed it.
photography: Ashley Rose Photography // venue name: Maravilla Gardens, in Camarillo, California // event design: Melissa Pearson of Bash, Please // wedding dress: Paloma Blanca Style 4202 // bride's shoes: Kate Spade // bridesmaid dresses: Monique Lhullier // groom attire: Burberry // paper goods: Friend of the Bride, Kristine Ho // catering: Command Performance Catering // cake: Sweet & Saucy Shop // event coordination: Melissa Pearson of Bash, Please // vintage furniture: Archive Vintage Rentals // floral design: Rolling Hills Flower Mart // hair stylist: Deniele of Dry Bar + Jessica of Blushington // makeup artist: Deniele of Dry Bar + Jessica of Blushington // cinematography: Iris & Light // invitations: Pleats and Thank You // ceremony music: Quartet from Supernova Quartet // reception DJ: Elegant Event Entertainment