Real Wedding: Jillan + Jed’s Natural History Museum Wedding

Today I have another super fun reader wedding to share. Jillian + Jed originally wanted an outdoor farmhouse style wedding, but after attending an art show for artist Amanda Visell (she’s the one who did all our artwork, invites, etc) at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum, things just clicked! From Jillian, “Once we choose the museum as our venue we wanted to bring the outside inside and make it twinkly and farmhouse chic! I kept referencing the fair scene in the movie Big Fish for our reception vibe. The ceremony was a little more understated and classic being in the Rotunda of the Museum but we kept our original theme and vibe for the reception.” Thanks so much to Candace and Mark Brooke for sharing their photography talent with us today!

It was all about DIY, like shopping for miss matched antique china all around LA and OC thrift stores, Jed and his dad building the bar and the log stands and putting together the twinkly lights and a million other things, my mom and godmother making our wisteria ceremony backdrop, and making the centerpieces a few days before the wedding by going to the LA flower mart and using mason jars… just to name a few of our DIY projects!

What song did you walk down the aisle to? Sea of Love by Cat Power and we exited the ceremony to Home by Ed Sharpe

Love that they had fun with some of their portraits with these masks + the animals at the museum!

Our Favorite Memory From The Wedding

Every single moment of our wedding! We worked so hard to make it special and it really paid off… we thoroughly enjoyed every second and it really was the best day of our lives! It was our dream wedding!

Our first dance was Do You Wanna Dance by The Mamas and the Papas, then right as the song ended the dj dropped in the same song, but the Ramones version. This got everyone on the dance floor!

Our Advice To Those Planning Now

The best advice I was given (and this is for those couples who are budget conscious) was to pick the one thing that is important to you both and make that your big ticket item. Then do what you can to DIY with other aspects and be willing to let a few ideas go as long as the important ones are realized and the essences of what you want your wedding day to be stays intact. For us our “big ticket” item was the venue, we loved the uniqueness and were excited about how fun it would be for our guest to roam the museum at night! After that we did as much DIY things we could to make our dream wedding!

Although it was hard work we are so thankful we paid attention to all the small details and made our dream wedding 100% us!! And we are so thankful to our family and friends who made the day possible, it literally took a village but it was so worth all the sweat and tears!!

Here is their wedding film by Mike Montenegro:

Vendors
Photography: Mark Brooke Photographers //  Venue: Los Angeles Natural History Museum //  Wedding Dress: Melissa Sweet  //  Shoes: Badgley Mischka  //  Bridesmaid Dress: LulaKate  //  Hair + Makeup: Hair by Jacqui Fosdick at Alexander’s Grand Salon and Spa in Anaheim Hills and Makeup by Eliven Quiros  //  Groom Suit: 3 piece suit by Jcrew. Bow tie by Thom Browne for Brooks Brother’s Black Fleece collection. Cuff links by Paul Smith //  Cinematography: Mike Montenegro  //  Event Planner: Lauren Hovey Event Management  //  Floral Design: My Secret Garden did the bouquets, boutonnieres and mothers wrist corsages. All other flowers and centerpieces were DIY. Toby at My Secret Garden was amazing and emailed me some great ideas for our DIY, she was understanding and helpful even though we couldn’t afford doing everything through her, the florist  //  Invitations/Paper Goods: Save the date, invitation and rsvp artwork by artist Amanda Visell //  Cake: Phoenix Bakery //  Cake Topper : Design by artist Michelle Valigura //  Music: Dave from Turn Table Lab  //  Catering: Lucille’s BBQ //  Dessert Table: Chocolate by C Salt Gourmet and Cheesecake pops by Truly Madly Sweetly Bake Shop //  Guest Gifts: Custom white lavender soap made by Level Naturals and Jed designed personalized Bandanas (which are awesome!!)

Congrats to Jillian + Jed!! And thanks for sharing your wedding with us today.

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