You know the bride is TRULY up for a DIY when she’s even willing to take a hand to her wedding dress—in this case, dresses! Candise is a dental hygienist by day (and DIY vintage princess by night!) and Jon is a songwriter, producer, and musician. Together, this rad couple planned an epic, vibrant, bohemian garden wedding and all within a budget of $30k! If Candise didn’t make it, she styled it. No matter what the element, the bride’s creative touch was felt throughout while Jon’s brilliant playlists set the entire vibe.
My goal was to create a whimsical bohemian outdoor garden dream at our venue in Temecula, the Secluded Garden Estate. Flowers upon flowers, pops of color everywhere, and all the small details. I’m obsessed with the ease of the bohemian ’70s esthetic with elements of macramé, crystals, and brass touches. I wanted to create photo moments throughout the whole space. The venue was very inspiring in its natural beauty, the abundance of color + spring flower choices, and the freedom to create a moment that we could share with all our loved ones. You could truly feel the love.
Rachael at Uriel Photography was ecstatic to capture all the details and special moments throughout the day! Let’s see how it all came together, shall we?
Bridal Party Goals
Give us all the sequins + velvet!
Bride + Groom
How rad are they?!
Let’s talk wedding dresses! Candise spilled the beans on her first look, a BHLDN gown-turned-beaded vision:
So my dress was a challenge! I had a budget and I also wanted two looks, so I had to get creative. My ceremony dress was from BHLDN. (Long story short I HAD to buy my dress there because I had access to getting 40% off.) I bought a dress that I could work with and tweak to my vision, then hired a seamstress. This was extremely scary because I had to trust in my vision. Cutting a dress and hearing the beads drop beside me was very intimidating. But my seamstress was amazing and created exactly want I’d envisioned. I had a custom crown made by Amaroq Design to finish off my ethereal princess look!
The Garden Ceremony
My most memorable moment was walking down the huge staircase to my future husband. I had a solid 3 minutes to take it all in. Holding my dad's arm so tightly because I was scared of falling, seeing the faces of the people we love, and the overwhelming moment of seeing my husband at the end of the aisle. He had so much love + emotion in his eyes. The way he looked at me, I will never forget.
Processional: Guys: I’ll Be Around by The Growlers | Bridesmaids: Going to California by Led Zeppelin | Bride Wildflowers by Tom Petty
Recessional: Vivir Mi Vida by Marc Anthony
First Dance: Mirrors by Justin Timberlake
Bella Florina created the most beautiful bouquets of blooms for the day!
Newlyweds Go Glam
Nothing like a green vintage car + some fringe to really up the wow factor!
My second dress was inspired by an Australian designer who was totally out of my price range. I looked into getting it second hand (which was also too expensive) and ended up finding a dress on Poshmark in a similar fabric and color. The dress only cost me $225 and my seamstress created a new version of the dress, all totaling $300. My mom wore a floral crown when she got married in the ’70s, so I wore one with the second dress to pay homage to her. I essentially ended up with two custom dresses that fit me like a glove. The moral of the story is: get creative if you’re on a budget!
The Boho Rocker Reception
Candise selected mid-century modern mixed with rattan pieces from Witty Rentals for the boho lounge spaces. How good is that pink velvet couch?
Candise went full DIY for the reception details:
I had to keep within the budget because we were paying for half the wedding ourselves. So I got creative! It was too expensive to rent napkins so I went to a fabric store, coupons in hand, and bought 3 different fabrics I loved. I literally taught myself how to sew and made my own napkins! I love macramé, so I watched YouTube videos and learned how to make a beautiful knot for our napkin holders. I made 150, making around 20 a night so I didn’t get overwhelmed. The majority of our glassware and plates came from the 99-cent store or second-hand from other brides. They literally looked like vintage crystal glasses!
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That view!
My best advice for planning a wedding is to write out a game plan. Break things into small projects so the big picture doesn’t overwhelm you. The more you break things down the more you can enjoy the process and grasp the beauty of creating such a special moment. AND don’t invite people to your wedding that are not present in your life currently. There are no obligations. Be picky, it’s your day!
Lovers on the moon! Such a creative, beautiful day. And Colby Jones captured even more details in between, from the magical beginnings of the moment they became man and wife! Have a look:
All our congrats to Candise + Jon!
photography: Uriel Photography // venue name: Secluded Garden Estate, Temecula, California, USA // event design: The Bride // planning: The Bride // florals: Bella Florina // hairpiece: Amaroq Design // hair stylist: Jamie Rosa // makeup artist: Dominique Rose // groom attire: ASOS // groom's shoes: Converse // videography: Colby Jones // calligraphy: Isabella Bradley // catering: Mexico City Cuisine // desserts: Le Rendezvous French Bakery // furniture rentals: Witty Rentals // music: DJ Ramsey // photo booth: Nicole Burbanks Events // music: Sleeping Giant Music // coordination: Bella Florina
Gorgeous set and video :) I especially love the hilltop setting!
What a Great work. I love all the pictures