Happy Monday, lovelies! We are starting the week off right here at GWS with Jessie + Steven’s super rad Vancouver theatre wedding. As soon as we laid eyes on the incredible photos, captured by The Nickersons, we couldn’t wait to share them with you guys! These two truly crafted a celebration of epic proportions, with personality oozing from literally every angle. Every little detail – ranging from Jessie’s incredible vintage inspired dress, to the live music performed throughout the night by friends, to their very own food truck festival staged in the venue’s parking lot – was not only incredibly creative, but an honest reflection of this adorable pair. And as self-professed obsessors over all things pop culture, Jessie + Steven were sure to include as many fun references to it as possible, like retro McDonald’s Happy Meal toys from Craigslist for table décor, army men figurines set up on the charcuterie table + playful bouts crafted from old Ebay lego finds. Talk about infusing your day with personality and FUN! We just love it!
Let’s hear about this amazing dress from Jessie! I wanted to look like myself. I collect vintage dresses and skirts, and wanted to make sure that, whatever I chose to wear, I’d feel like me. My heart skips a beat when I think about my dress. We named it at the first fitting – “Olga.” A lovely champagne–coloured-frothy-party-on-a-hanger. Yards and yards of crinkly crinoline with pink lace. During my fitting the seamstress was telling me that she would steam all the wrinkles out of the skirt and I was like “Oh no! Don’t steam the wrinkles. Please keep the wrinkles.” She told me at my final fitting that (at first) she thought I was crazy. Bonus: the coordinator not having to worry about wrinkling the fabric when helping me up and down stairs.
Loved their fun first look!
The rainbow bunting overhead, crafted by Jessie + her friends from old wallpaper samples, set the right tone for the day off the bat!
Seeing the sun come out while we were at the salon. Jumping up and down with Sarah, one of our fabulous photographers.
Being surrounded by our family and friends as our ceremony was beginning, with all our friends singing - and looking around this big group of HUGE smiles and shining eyes. (We’re all criers. There were a lot of happy tears.)
Seeing the looks on everyone’s faces when the desserts were brought out – gourmet pie from The Pie Hole and pop culture-inspired cupcakes from Love Your Cake will make anyone go weak at the knees. You could see people mentally picking out which one they wanted and being prepared to fight to the death for Wally, Jack the Pumpkin King, a Ninja Turtle, or one of the Fat Elvis pies (seriously the best thing you’ll ever eat).
Sitting down with the wedding party after the ceremony, all the girls kicking their shoes off and the boys drinking from their flasks. Everyone was like “Let’s Party!”
At one point we were in the dressing room above the reception and the building felt like it was vibrating as the entire party sang Don’t Stop Believin’ at the top of their lungs.
The non-stop dancing, thanks to our wicked New York DJ pal Ashley Ball.
Seeing all of our guests go crazy in the photo booth, and then watching them craft their own guestbook pages with markers and washi tape. We took the guestbook back to our hotel room at the end of the night and read them together.
Processional: Make You Feel My Love – Bob Dylan
Recessional: You & I – Ingrid Michaelson (Duet on a ukulele with 30+ person chorus which ended with the entire congregation clapping and foot-stomping!)
First Dance: Second Star to the Right – Doris Day & The Four Lads (Solo by one of the couple's dearest friends)
Guests were given fun, faux itineraries + envelopes that held tickets for food + drinks – like a carnival!
We had a sweetheart ‘lounge’ filled with crazy theatre props instead of a head table or sweet heart table – it was used by guests throughout the evening for their own silly photos. Steven and I are both obsessed with pop culture and had a great time crafting different elements for décor that could bring that in.
Jessie topped her dress with a bolero made from her favorite vintage skirt for the reception! So colorful + fun!
Make it your own. We bucked a lot of traditions and had fun making some new ones too. Our wedding party sat with the rest of the congregation instead of standing with us (my pregnant sister was very, very appreciative). The traditional cake cutting was replaced by a rousing group rendition of “Happy Wedding Day To You” and a very firey wedding cake. We did food trucks instead of buffet or plated meal. In lieu of glass clinking, we asked guests to challenge us to a “Pop-Culture-Off.” They would challenge, we would ask them a trivia questions, and if they answered correctly we would oblige with a kiss. Needless to say, hilarity ensued thanks to numerous challenges that featured groups singing theme songs.
Use your circle. We were so lucky to be surrounded by ridiculously talented people who said “Yes!” to our “will you sing/play/set-up/decorate/loan/drive” questions.
Having a coordinator on the day of was amazing - and worth the investment for ease of mind. We had taken the lead with much of the planning then had a couple of meetings with Rachel to hand the whole thing off. Being able to spend the event focusing on the day and not the details was incredible.
Eat. Something. Even if its gummy bears hastily procured from the hotel vending machine.
Ask for help. And be ready to toss a project if it isn’t working out. DIY all you want, but make sure you’ve got a couple bottles of wine and a team of friends – it’ll go faster and you’ll be less likely to go crazy and end up in a pile of paper scraps, covered in glue and shouting “Why!? Why did I think this was a good idea?!”
photography: The Nickersons // venue name: Performance Works, Vancouver BC, Canada // event design: Radiant Events // planning: Radiant Events // florals: V&J Plant Shop // wedding dress: Enzoani (Modeca Olivia-M) from Bryan's Bride // bride's shoes: Vintage // cake: Love Your Cake // music: New York DJ pal Ashley Ball // cupcakes: Love Your Cake // other desserts: The Pie Hole // food trucks: Roaming Dragon, Vij's Railway Express, Kaboom Box // jewelry: Vintage
What an incredible, joy-filled to the brim day to be part of! Thanks for sharing!! :)
Do you happen to know the actual brand/model of the dress? The boutique name isn’t very helpful.
Anna: It’s Enzoani (Modeca Olivia-M) with alterations to the bodice.
OMG you were the most gorgeous (and stylish!) bride!! Do you happen to remember the brand/name of your bridal belt? It is soooo fun!!
Love this wedding – every bit of detail has such style and personality. It really feels like the essence of the couple was captured in every moment.
Gorgeous wedding! Loved the beautiful and unique details, pretty colors and the theme and style of the wedding.
Oh my gosh, this wedding is flawless. Perfect mix of love, fun, personality and elegance. My favorite wedding on GWS so far. I’m showing my fiance these boutonnieres ASAP!
I must know where she got her shoes!!!!!
Hey Valerie — They were a theatre prop! Jessie & Steven are very well connected to the theatre community in Vancouver.
LOVE the action figure bouts! Awesome details throughout this wedding.
I don’t even *like* weddings (but am friends with an amazing wedding planner so I may stumble over from time to time) and I just have to say — goddamn. This looks like so much fun. I love the odds and ends of trinkety things at the tables, the whole feel of everything, your clearly wonderful family and friends, that FOOOOOOD!, and words I’ve never thought I would utter (if you knew me you’d stop in your tracks) — that dress, hoooooly moly. Congratulations, strangers! You pulled it off with most admirable style. :)
So pretty! Very unique styling. :)