Matsu Valley Home Wedding: Yvonne + Caleb
I photographed Yvonne and Caleb’s adorable intimate wedding in May at an AirBnB overlooking the Knik River near Palmer, Alaska. I love the fact that more and more couples are doing exactly what they want for their weddings, without feeling like they have to subscribe to some traditional ideas that don’t fit their personalities. Instead, you can get married with just your closest friends, family, and neighbors watching— all while overlooking a glacier. The day came together with a couple bumps in the road, but when you’ve found your person (and are as chill and lovely as Yvonne and Caleb) things just have a way of working themselves out.
One of my favorite moments of the day was something really small— and I don’t even know if it was intentional, but it was just perfect. Caleb’s friend held a little tiny speaker up while Yvonne walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of “Here, There, and Everywhere” by the Beatles. The first line of that song is, “To lead a better life, I need my love to be here” and this could not be more perfect for them. Yvonne and Caleb did long-distance for much of their relationship. She was in Germany, he was in Alaska. So, when that music played as she walked towards Caleb, it felt like the gap was truly closing and they could lead their best lives now that they were in the same space, together.
Flowers by: Paper Peony
Desserts by: Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop
Jane Austen Styled Wedding
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a photographer with access to amazing vendors and models, must be in want of a dream wedding shoot.
Jane Austen's Elizabeth Bennet is not unlike the many Alaskan brides I work with regularly. She is a firm believer in love and not doing things because they are expected. She is adventurous and curious, kind and compassionate. She loves the outdoors and being free. These similarities led to my idea for a Jane Austen themed styled shoot.
Usually, the name "Jane Austen" would make you think of stuffy historical-period costumes, but that is so far from the case! Jane Austen's characters are so real and if you strip away the rigidness of the Regency era, they could fit in perfectly in today's world. So with that idea and five other amazing vendors, we embarked on our Alaska-style Jane Austen wedding.
When I work with models, I actually love to give them roles to play-- which was another reason this shoot was like a dream. I assigned each one of our models a Bennet sister. This next photo so completely captures the Bennet sister's personalities, that I get giddy every time I look at it (and I like to think that this is exactly what Austen would've had in mind for Lizzie's wedding day.) There are Kitty and Lydia, planning some flirtatious mischief, naturally. Lizzie looking fierce and proud of the fact that she held out for love. (Pemberly is just a bonus!) There's sweet newly-wed Jane, looking on at her sister in her incandescent happiness. And then there's Mary. Sweet Mary who is, of course, supportive of her favorite sister but less than thrilled to be a part of all the pomp and circumstance.
Kitty, Lydia, Elizabeth, Jane, and Mary Bennet
It was a bitingly cold day in Anchorage up at Flat Top, and the models were such troopers!
This session could not have come together without the vision of all of those involved. Natasha Price of Paper Peony created stunning bouquets that looked effortless and rich all at the same time. She said her goal was to make it look like the Bennet girls had picked the flowers from their own garden, which I loved. She also wrapped the stems in heirloom handkerchiefs and lace. Orainda of Orainda's Bridal Boutique provided the perfect lacy dresses and an overall cohesive look for the ladies. Again, it really felt like this is what Elizabeth would have chosen for her wedding if she was getting married in the modern day. Katy Bakker completely understood the romantic low-key makeup vibe and characters we were going for, to the point where Lydia and Kitty had the brightest lipstick and Mary the most natural-looking. Brenna Wright of Headline Blonde Hairstyling did the most stunning carefree-looking hair that allowed for sweet blowing tendrils. And Meghan Bartlett Film caught all of the moments and put it into a great video (which is at the very end of this post.)
Again, this could not have happened without the amazing vendors and models. (Natasha Price and Orainda Heins not pictured.)
Vendors:
Florist: Paper Peony
Gowns: Orainda's Bridal Boutique
Makeup: Katy Bakker
Hair: Headline Blonde
Videography: Meghan Bartlett Film Co.
Models:
Elizabeth: Bryanna Fogel
Jane: Lesley Hoffman
Kitty: Natalie Appell
Lydia: McKenzie Mahan
Mary: Caley Heady
Marisa + Neil's Arctic Valley Wedding
Marisa and Neil married at Arctic Valley on one of the sunniest days we've had so far this gray summer, and it was the most Alaskan wedding I've seen yet. Don't believe me? Marisa and Neil married at a ski resort, mentioned hiking during their standing-room only ceremony, and walked down the aisle straight to a chairlift. (Yep, their receiving line for their guests was on the top of a freaking mountain!)
Another uniquely Alaskan part of their wedding was how laid back Marisa and Neil were. I had to laugh when Neil just casually sauntered in to where Marisa was getting ready. He was still putting on his pants and she was tying a ribbon around her bouquet. This was their "first look", but it was completely no frills and was such a great depiction of their relationship because Neil gave Marisa a huge kiss, finished putting on his belt, and then produced a pocket knife to help her cut through the ribbon. Have I mentioned I love Alaskan couples?! It was so clear to me how well they work together, and I know they will have many amazing adventures together.
Vendors:
Bride's Dress: Fabulous Frocks Anchorage
Venue: Arctic Valley
Cupcakes: Lindsey Middendorf
Catering: Homemade by Family + Friends
Lorraine & Henri's Wedding
Most married people have planned a wedding, and many of those people will probably remember it can be a tad stressful. Maybe your cake wasn't ready on time, you couldn't figure out who should get a plus-one, or your seating chart just wasn't coming together. But most of us never had to go to bed one night planning their dream wedding and wake up the next morning worried it might not be legal. Unfortunately, that's exactly what happened to many LGBT couples in America on November 8th.
Originally I met with Lorraine and Henri to plan their September 2017 wedding, but after this year's election outcome, they contacted to say they weren't taking any chances. They would move the timeline up and have a small ceremony to make it legal... but love trumps hate, so they'll still be having their epic party in September!
I love this photo because the woman on the left was getting her hair done and overheard it was Lorraine's wedding day. She came over to check out the "inspiration" picture and offer her congratulations. I love that weddings bring out such joy-- and not just from those involved!
Henri and his best friend had their own little ceremony before the wedding. They've been friends for ages, and gave each other special Pokemon tie-tacks.
Their "First Look" was a special one. We were losing daylight fast (that'll happen during Alaska winter weddings!) and Lorraine mentioned she wanted to make Henri cry. First Looks are always a favorite part of the day because it often means getting your support system back on a hectic day. The looks are so genuine and full of emotion.
Vendors:
Venue:: Bride's Parents' Home
Caterer:: Dinner at Club Paris in Anchorage.
Florist:: Carrs
Cake:: Carrs
Makeup/Hair:: Hair: VIBE Salon in Eagle River. Makeup: Bride's friend, Denali
Bride's Dress Designer:: David's Bridal
Accessories:: David's Bridal
Groom's Attire:: J.C. Penny
Lindsey & Nick's Crow Creek Wedding
Lindsey and Nick’s wedding was such a wonderful way to end my summer wedding season. Even though it was raining, the mountain fog made for beautiful photos and this couple wasn’t going to let anything ruin their party! I have to say, there were so many things I loved about this wedding. Besides the fact that Lindsey and Nick are an amazing couple, they also had the most gorgeous display of cupcakes, an adorable gaggle of flower girls who stole the show, and a stunning Bollywood dance performed by the bride’s cousin. It’s little touches like this— and a couple who knows how to throw a good party—that make weddings like this my favorite.
The bride's sister made all of these little clay pots for the wedding favors, and they were filled with Lindsey's all-time favorite candy: jelly beans.
I was told this was a tradition for the Middendorf family, adorably called a "Totem-dorf."
All of the photos from the day of Nick with his nephew and nieces are enough to make your heart melt!
The cutest group of Flower Girls I've ever seen!
I love capturing toasts, as well as the reactions to them.
Can we agree that every wedding should have a Bollywood dance performance?
Venue: Crow Creek Mine in Girdwood, AK
Bride’s Dress: WToo from Fabulous Frocks Anchorage
Groom’s Suit: Indochino
Cupcakes: Betty Dye, family friend
Caterer: Master’s Catering
Florist: Debbie Jaso, family friend
Makeup/Hair: Amber Molen
Mary & Jazon's Wedding
Before a wedding, I always ask my clients what their top priorities are for their day and their photography. Mary and Jazon responded with only one very clear priority: for everyone to have fun. It's such a simple goal, but one that is easier said than done. Looking through the hundreds of photos I took on their wedding day though, it's so clear to see through all of the bubble wars, the genuine laughter, and the AMAZING dancing that Mary and Jazon definitely nailed their goal. Even a little rain couldn't put a damper on this group!
It's always an honor being invited to share in someone's wedding day and capture the moments that are blurring by. But I find I really love getting to shoot a wedding for a couple that I've also worked with in the past. I did Mary and Jazon's engagement photos last fall, which makes the wedding day feel like it has all come full circle or is the final chapter in a really good book. Of course, for the couple, the wedding is just the beginning and Mary and Jazon had such an awesome beginning.
Enjoy just this handful of photos from their beautiful wedding day.
Mary was telling me that Jazon always seems to attract more mosquitoes than she does. We laughed about how this veil shot was really like a marital mosquito net. I didn't realize it really was such an inside joke until a bottle of bug spray even worked its way into one of the wedding toasts! Maybe the veil will need to become a part of outdoor Alaska adventures? ;)
Jazon surprised the guests by playing "Here Comes the Bride" on his trumpet while Mary walked down the aisle.
Congratulations, you two!
Venue: Alaska Native Heritage Center
DJ: Brendan Babb
Catering: Texas Roadhouse
Bartender: Top Bottle Services
Cupcakes: Lesley's Cakes
Florist: Bagoy's and Carrs
Mary's Dress: Tadashi Shoji
Kerry & Patrick's Wedding
The wedding industry, Pinterest, and your nosy great-aunt can put a lot of pressure on wedding planning. There’s such crazy pressure to have everything just right. So often, that isn’t reality. Things will go in a different direction than you planned, but why does that have to be a bad thing? Some of my favorite weddings (as a guest and a photographer) are when plans have to be tossed out and couples start to improvise. You can tell so much from a bride and groom based on how they handle the stress of a runaway wedding day. And that’s exactly what Kerry & Patrick had to do.
Kerry & Patrick planned a beautiful, low-key Alaskan wedding surrounded by their children and friends. Kerry told me they only planned it a few weeks in advance, because that’s another thing wedding magazines don’t tell you: life happens all around you when you’re supposed to be planning some grandiose affair. We were to meet at the bottom of the Alyeska Tram at 6 o’clock on a lovely warm March evening. We had scores of Tram Tickets and the kids had their Xtra-Tufs. What more could anyone want for an Alaskan wedding?
Well, as it turns out, a tram that didn’t close half an hour earlier.
But this is what I loved about Kerry & Patrick’s wedding! There were a few moments of “what are we going to do?” looks exchanged, but then the problem solving started. Everyone was dressed for an outdoor Alaskan wedding, so we made use of the stunning Winner Creek Trail nearby. It was a short walk into the woods before we came to a bridge over a little creek, and everyone realized this was more perfect for the beginning of Kerry & Patrick’s marriage than the original plan.
Life isn’t always what you plan for, but as long as you find a partner who is willing to roll with the changes with you, it’s almost always better than what you were originally hoping for. Congratulations Kerry, Patrick, and company!
Rachel & Nick's Wedding
It was an overcast Tuesday in February. Not the most common day for a wedding; yet, the perfect wedding day for Rachel & Nick. Nine years before standing in front of all their loved ones to say, “I do”, they met for their first date.
As Rachel gets ready she tells me about when they first met. “Nick was eating dinner with his parents at Las Margaritas.” She laughs as she describes the fact that her Father’s love for the local Mexican restaurant is what really brought Nick into her life, and that she’d had too much tequila while making her first impression. Later, Nick adds to this story and tells me she left out about the part where she was mainly speaking in a Scottish accent that night. It's clear they share many years of memories, jokes, and love.
Rachel & Nick’s wedding was the perfect winter wedding. I already love cold weather weddings because there is something so cozy about them, but this was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Their theme was “Elegant Alice”, and stepping through the door of Nick’s parents’ house was exactly like stepping into an elegant Wonderland. Soft twinkle lights hung from the walls, silver snowflakes adorned teacups and stacks of old books, and tiny tags with “eat me” and “drink me” instructed guests just like they did Alice. Their families and friends really went all out to help make this wedding happen!
Rachel's Grandmother was her Maid of Honor.
Congratulations to Rachel and Nick on a beautiful day and what will be a wonderful marriage!
Melanie & Matt's Cozy Girdwood Wedding
In true Girdwood fashion, it was a rainy fall day; however, the Raven Glacier Lodge was like an oasis of warmth in the lush green forest. Orange lights glowed throughout the house, accented by the occasional wafts of homemade food, and the bride and groom's families buzzing about. Melanie sat on a bed in an upstairs bedroom, seemingly calm, cool, and collected as her friend, Anda, sketched her. This would not be your cookie-cutter wedding.
As almost punctuation to that sentiment, Melanie hiked up her lacy gown and pulled on her Xtra-Tuffs.
Melanie and Matt share an almost unspoken language. I know that sounds cliché, but I’ve run that idea by people who know them well, and they all agree. Sometimes they can look at each other and you realize they’re having a whole conversation. They understand each other, and it seems they even make important decisions without speaking a word! I’ve noticed this many times seeing them together, but this became so apparent when they were getting ready apart from each other. I think that’s one reason I love first-looks so much. Every moment on your wedding day is building to the moment you get your support system back on, arguably, one of the busiest days of your life.
The First Look! Matt smiled at her and quickly asked for a hug.
It’s strange how sitting outside on a cold, damp day can still be warm… but there was so much love on Matt and Melanie's day, that it couldn’t help but feel cozy, feel like home. I love when two people have found each other, and in their partner have found their home. Congratulations you guys!
Ciara & Jacob: Big Lake Wedding
When Ciara originally contacted me, she asked about wedding venues. The couple was coming up from California, and she wanted some local insight for their big day. It wasn’t long though before she said they’d found the perfect spot for their wedding: a family home on Big Lake.
I'll admit I got a bit lost traversing the dirt road maze on the way to Ciara and Jacob's wedding, but Jacob's Grandfather's home could not have been a more beautiful backdrop for this lovely couple! Finally, I was sure I had the right place when I drove into the yard and saw four men in suits pacing around. Jacob instantly came over and greeted me, and told me where I might find his bride.
I love small weddings for many reasons, but one is that it feels extra-special as a photographer to be invited in to something so intimate among friends and family. Ciara and her bridesmaids were putting finishing touches on inside the house, including a few spritzes of Juicy Couture for the bride. Then, without seeing each other, the couple held hands on either side of the door and said a short prayer.
On the back porch of the home, the couple wed in front of glistening waters and under a perfect blue sky. Ciara's parents stood to the side, ensuring a small video camera was capturing every detail for those back home in California. Forest, the couples' friend, performed a beautiful wedding ceremony. I loved the small detail in the notebook where the ceremony was written; on the front cover it said "Start Something Wonderful".
The whole group! I just have to say, everyone was so fun and I love the genuine laughter in this photo. And thanks to Jonny for being such a good sport. :)
Congratulations Ciara and Jacob! It's true, you've definitely started something wonderful!
Hannah & Wade:: Eagle River Wedding
One of my favorite moments to capture between couples is the split second before a kiss. If you’re lucky, there’s a little spark that makes for beautiful pictures. But with Hannah and Wade, it wasn’t a little spark—it is pure electricity. They would just light up when I would ask them to kiss.
This is one of my favorite photos of the day. This was Hannah's reaction when I asked her to kiss Wade. Everything else melted away and it was just husband and wife and that great spark.
From start to finish, I was with them for only an hour-- but there were plenty of amazing photo opportunities. Hannah and Wade had a small ceremony at the gorgeous Eagle River Nature Center, overlooking mountains and water. It's clear they have a great group of friends, who have become a second family for them in Alaska.
Hannah was one of those enviable brides who just makes it all look so easy! She was absolutely stunning, and was a real trooper when it came to hiking in heels and suffering through the mosquito attacks.
Wade said he wished they'd gotten married in front of an erupting volcano. And sometimes when you're finally going a little looney from editing, photoshopping Alaska's mountains seems like the perfect way to spend your time. This idea and photo definitely sums up how fun this couple is!
Congratulations Hannah & Wade!
Forget Everything You Know About Wedding Planning:
I've just returned from our mini Honeymoon at a quiet cabin on the Kenai River, and all the while I've been thinking how do I even begin to tackle a blog post about our wedding?! The day was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Many things you hear about weddings rang true-- the day goes fast and you'll hardly remember all the moments-- but the overall feeling I'm left with is that we put on a wonderful wedding!
I'd planned our wedding within an inch of its life (if you can even do that) and still, I didn't really know what to expect. I didn't know how I would feel or how all the little pieces would come together. I think when you spend over a year looking at stunning wedding photos, you get this false idea of what it will be like. In truth, I still felt like myself, just in a really awesome, fluffy dress.
So, while I was sitting on the Kenai reflecting, here are the things I wish I'd known (and/or listened to) before our big day. These are the most valuable things I've learned as a bride:
Ask People For Help:
This was the most valuable advice I got when I began planning. People love to help with weddings, because it makes them feel a part of it. You also will be so amazed at the talents of those around you! My Aunts Patty & Kathy—with the help of the Mother of the Bride and my sister (and Bridesmaid) Laura-- jumped in to make our wedding cakes. My Aunt Susan is an amazing gardener, so we asked her to arrange centerpieces. My sister, Emily, makes stunning hand-sewn books; she made some for us so we could write our vows and ceremony in them. Family friends grilled caribou sausage (from my now-Husband’s fall hunt last year) and wild Alaska salmon (caught by my parents). My Dad brewed six different kinds of home-brew to cut down on alcohol costs. Our friend wrote & delivered the most stunning and personal wedding ceremony. Another friend runs a sewing business and helped make the bunting that decorated the ceremony and reception sites. The list goes on and on, and I know I’ve probably forgotten people. The point is though: use the talents of your loved ones—they are amazing people and want to help you!
My Aunt Patty & Aunt Kathy took on the task of making our wedding cakes. It was a huge undertaking to have a table of Fifteen (!!!) cakes, but my Aunts were wonderful help. The days leading up to a wedding are so chaotic, and I relished the chance to help them in the kitchen-- as it was one of the only chances we really had to visit.
My Aunt Susan works wonders with flowers at her home in sunny California, and she was more than willing to help arrange centerpieces. We ordered flowers from wholesale distributor, Fifty Flowers, and were so pleased with the boxes and boxes of flowers arriving from around the world.
My Mom reacts to opening a box of gorgeous peonies from Fifty Flowers.
A box of 200 roses, 100 peonies, and a variety of greens and babies breath. Ordering wholesale and doing it ourselves cut down on costs by about 75%! (A florist quoted me $20-$30 per peony from them... we paid about $2 per flower!)
Hire People You Trust:
After I recruited all the talents of my loved ones that I could think of, I turned to professionals I trusted. Take the time to find the style of vendors that you like, describe your vision, and then trust them to do their best.
As a photographer, relinquishing the photography to someone was difficult for me—and I looked at many different ones in my area. Definitely take the time to find someone you feel comfortable with. Your photographer will be with you during very intimate moments during the day (I don’t even let my now-husband see me do the awkward putting-on-Spanx dance, but my photographer was in the room for that during getting ready photos, thankfully sans camera!) Erica Rose did a stunning job capturing our wedding, and I feel completely confident she will have captured moments that we will cherish forever. I am so glad I took the time to find someone who's style I loved, and it felt like we had just another friend at the wedding.
Photo: Brandon Hafer
Ask locals for recommendations if you don’t know where to start. That’s how I found Malia at the Girdwood Styling Salon and TAMS Card/Bartender extraordinaire, Shannon Markley. I found Natasha Price—better known as Alaska Knit Nat—when she hosted the AEDC’s “I Love Anchorage” Instagram account and she made floral crowns for my bridesmaids that fulfilled my “woodland fairy” vision. My makeup artist, Caitlin Gilpin, is an old friend from when I worked at Sephora and is a true artist. For all of these ladies, I briefly described what I wanted and then let them take over and I’m so glad I did! The only thing I would've changed is allowing more time to get ready.
Malia at the Girdwood Styling Salon gets the Mother of the Groom ready.
Caitlin Gilpin, makeup artist extraordinaire, made us all feel like the prettiest versions of ourselves!
Floral Crowns by Alaska Knit Nat transformed my bridesmaids into "Woodland Fairies".
Photo: Brandon Hafer
Ignore Traditions that Mean Nothing To You:
The day after we got engaged, I bought a stack of bridal magazines. It made sense-- most brides (including myself) have no point of reference for planning a wedding, so you're looking for any guidance. What I didn't realize at the time is that these magazines will freak you out with their articles about "If Your First Dance Isn't Perfect, People Will Judge You" or "Planning Your Wedding on a Budget" (only to find that budget was $40,000!) It took awhile, but I realized I needed to trust myself and our vision.
Throw out the pieces of the ceremony and reception you don't like. No one is going to miss the garter toss! My now-husband and I thought unity candles were kind of stupid. Ever since I was little I've hated the idea of lighting this candle and then shortly after blowing it out. Nope. We researched a bunch of alternatives and found lots of things about sand ceremonies, planting a tree, even creating your own blend of wine. Tony and I originally settled on the idea of a Unity Rocket, but that was vetoed under the venues' "No Fireworks" policy. And that's when our Unity Blueberry Muffin celebration was born.
Photo: Don Speulda
My Mom says I'm probably the only bride in the history of weddings to don an apron halfway through the ceremony and whip up a batch of muffins. The Backstory: Tony and I love all that Alaska has to offer in the Great Outdoors, and we fell in love with each other while picking blueberries. So we decided to assign a quality of a healthy/delicious marriage to each ingredient and whip up a batch during our ceremony...
1 egg: commitment to each other—holds all of it together.
1 cup milk: love and support of our friends and families
¼ cup canola oil- communication to help things run smoothly
2 cups flour: substance, foundation, roots
¼ cup sugar- keeping life sweet, romantic, and humorous
3 tsp baking powder- offering encouragement and support to each other
1 tsp salt: the challenges we will face, & the way we work together to overcome them
1 cup blueberries- teamwork and love of adventure
(Tony and I planned to cook them in a Dutch Oven during the ceremony, but due to a burn-ban in affect, we used the "magic of TV" and had a pre-prepared one ready. We each took a bite from the unity muffin right before being pronounced husband and wife.)
Find what is important to you, and go with it. If getting married in a church isn't you, don't do it. We love Alaska and the mountains, so getting married outdoors was important to us, and thankfully we didn't need our rain plan! We also showcased our personalities by choosing non-traditional music: Tony walked down the aisle to an instrumental version of "The Middle" by Jimmy Eat World, and I walked down the aisle to the beautiful & dramatic "Sound of Music" overture. Tony's sister, Adrienne, stood on his side during the ceremony and we called her a "Groomsmaid". We also didn't put anyone in charge of making announcements during the wedding reception, and Tony and I took turns doing this which kept things informal and fun-feeling.
You can do whatever you want for your ceremony-- even take time to take a selfie at the altar! Tony and I set out to have a unique wedding, and I'm so glad we did!
Don't let the small stuff get to you:
Things will be forgotten or they won't go to plan. They just will and that's okay. The key to not letting the little moments get to you, is knowing you did the best you could. (This includes not getting your arms as toned as you wanted to!)
In our rush to get everything set up at the reception site, we forgot to bring the vegetarian food option. Our Best Man offered to run and get them, and we made sure that the vegetarians were in the know that their food was coming, and in the meantime there were veggie side dishes. It could have been a disaster, but everyone was really great about it and people helped to solve the problem.
I had a bunch of little crafty signs and things that I'd slaved over that never even saw the light of day. At first it was disappointing, but then I took a step back and realized the venue still looked amazing without them. And the ones that did make it out, looked awesome!
On another note about the small stuff:
You will miss things. You can't even begin to see all of the little moments happening during your day. Encourage people to take photos and use a hashtag to share them. One of my favorite parts of the wedding was a photo scavenger hunt I created-- and we got some of the most hilarious videos/pics of things I never even saw going on! (Email me for a free Photo Scavenger Hunt printable template!)
Take a moment to appreciate all your hard work! The centerpieces, home-sewn napkins and bunting, the scavenger hunt at the table... all of it made our day amazing and fun!
Photo: Brandon Hafer
Cut Costs Where You Can:
Weddings are expensive-- like, stupidly so. Identify what is important to you and where you can cut costs. We knew we wanted to provide all the alcohol for our guests, so put money in the budget for booze and tipping the bartender. (Costco is amazing and took back all of our unused alcohol!) We thought a photo booth would be fun, but weren't willing to splurge on one. Instead, we set up a point-and-shoot camera on a tripod and I made a bunch of paper props on dowels. The outcome was perfect!
Photo: Brandon Hafer
Find ways to cut costs. Rather than printing programs, I designed a chalkboard program that had all the information about the ceremony guests needed to know.
Homemade Favors: Jars of Jam using wild blueberries that Tony and I picked in the fall.
My favorite wedding decoration: this adorable cake topper I made (and sell in my Etsy Shop).
Our cake table! We had antique floral dishes and fifteen different cakes-- some homemade and the rest supplemented by Celestial Sweets. My favorite is still my Mom's Carrot Cake!
Close up on our centerpieces: wooden boxes made by Tony, flowers from Fifty Flowers, arrangement by Susan Galagaran.
I could go on and on about our wedding and what I loved, would do differently, or would do exactly the same all over again. I think in a way I'm still processing the day, and see something new with each new photo shared. The day did go faster than I could have ever imagined, and I wish I could relive it in slow-motion. The one thing I was not in any way prepared for-- and that I didn't read about anywhere-- was how loved and supported Tony and I both felt throughout our day. It's amazing to hear personalized vows and that declaration of love from your partner, but it's also amazing to connect with friends and family and feel like a community is supporting us in this journey. Tony and I occasionally would say we should just elope, and after experiencing that feeling of love-- I'm glad we didn't. It wouldn't have been us.
If you're currently planning a wedding, the best advice I could give you is: be true to yourself. No magazine, reality shows, or pinterest boards can completely capture who you are as a couple. Don't feel like you have to do any one thing. Use traditional wedding formats as a guideline and don't feel bad about sticking to your guns.
And if at the end of the night, you want to wear your new-husband's suit coat and pick up your camera-- by all means, go for it!