I love how carefree and fun Jillian + Adam’s wedding was! The Alisal Ranch in Solvang, California was the perfect location for their festivities. Jillian created many of the details herself including the invites and paper flowers. And the lace sleeves on her wedding dress? So gorgeous + unique! Big thanks to Jackie Wonders for the photos and congrats to Jillian + Adam!
We made it a priority and made time for calm and reflection leading up to the wedding. We made a vision board early on for what we both hoped to get out of the wedding ceremony, reception and planning process – and we came back to it every time we felt stressed, pressured or unclear on our next steps.
Isn’t Jillian’s dress amazing?! It was made by Sonia Kasparia of Urchin ReDesign from an upcycled designer dress, repurposed materials and family heirlooms!
Processional: Jillian's girlfriends singing "One Voice” by The Wailin
Recessional: Traditional String Wedding Recessional
First Dance: "When You’ve Got Trouble" by Liz Longley
It has to be a tie: the first was looking around and seeing virtually everyone we loved in one place – boating on the lake, dancing, roasting s'mores, laughing, supporting us. The second was when one of our favorite bands from early on in our relationship came to play at our wedding, and announced that their gift to us was their last song. They came off the platform and onto the wood deck and played and sang the most lovely, acoustic song in three-part harmony; barefoot. Our guests naturally gathered in a circle around us and we had a "second dance" together to close the night. An amazing moment under the stars, full of love and satisfaction. It's those magical moments that you just can't plan or anticipate.
We have tremendous gratitude for all the family, friends, and vendors (who also happened to be family and friends) who truly made our wedding week what it was. With such a unified, passionate effort by all, we can truly say it wouldn’t have been the same without you. And thanks to the mystery person who arranged the “love-love-love” skywriting to appear just before dinner.
Get as many people as you personally know to contribute. You might think you're burdening them, but in our experience, people were honored to contribute and it made the experience all the more rich and personal. Decide what you truly care about early on, collectively – and I mean qualities more than types of flowers – and keep bringing yourselves back to them throughout the planning.
From Adam: Have a few “open invitation” events throughout the weekend so you don’t feel pressure to connect with every person at the reception. Take five minutes here and there to be alone (or present) with your sweetheart.
photography: Jackie Wonders // venue + catering: Alisal Ranch in Solvang, CA // event design + planner: Jillian Van Ness // day of coordinator: Rani Hoover // floral design: Jillian Van Ness; including handmade paper flower bouquet with poetry written in fountain pen by the groom // wedding dress: made from an upcycled designer dress, repurposed materials and family heirlooms by Sonia Kasparia of Urchin ReDesign (Portland, OR) // hairpieces: Custom veil by Sonia Kasparian of Urchin ReDesign // paper flowers: Jillian Van Ness // hair + makeup: Jessica Krueger // groom suit: linen three-piece from Calvin Klein // cinematography: Timothy Julious // invitations + paper goods: Jillian Van Ness, Anders Printing (OR), and Of the Earth (WA) // cake: two raw cakes made by our amazing friend and chef, Sapna Shah // music: Paper Bird
Ceremony Arch made by father of the groom
loving all the lace detail on her gown.
This wedding looks like it would have been so much fun to attend!
I was in deep love with this wedding. Thanks for sharing A&J’s incredible wedding with your GWS readers!
love the vintage/rustic feel of these wedding!
I love how relaxed and laid-back this wedding feels…like one big awesome party among friends! Also, Jillian has to have the most beautiful “undone” wedding hair I’ve ever seen.
just beautiful, so natural with beautiful lights ! congratulations !
It is a happy farm wedding ceremony,the long veil is so nice! Love the rings,they look so gorgeous,and the mountain is so beautiful!
How could one not love these images? They are stunning, the couple, the setting, just wow.
WHERE is her ring from?!? i’m dying to know!!! such a dream ring!
Hi Megan, Thanks for asking! The rings were co-designed and made by dear friends of ours. Sondrea of Riverside Studios in Truckee, CA made mine with stones from both of our families. She’s absolutely AMAZING and it was so fun to work on the design with her. Rik Elkin of Elkin Jewelers made Adam’s. I highly recommend being involved with the design of your ring!
Loving this wedding!