If there is one request that we get over and over again, it’s a plea for more ballroom weddings. After all, most of us aren’t blessed with picture perfect, bright and sunny weather and taking a chance on an outdoor reception is, well, impossible. So when I saw this adorable fete designed by the always ingenious Heather Balliet of Amorology, I nearly fell off my chair. Heather approached a simple ballroom with the same charm and totally unique style of the outdoor weddings we see…and she totally pulled it off! Click here to see even more pics.
{click here to see the full wedding}
When our bride Tammy came to us with a love for books and tea and a passion for poetry and all things vintage, a pride a prejudice concept quickly began to develop. The ceremony took place among the rose gardens at Rancho Bernardo Inn and under a romantic draped trellis. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father and music that played from a beautiful white baby grand piano, as a nod to her love for music as a pianist herself. In lieu of a sand ceremony the couple poured water into a birdbath adorned with floating flowers to symbolize the joining of their love.
Following the ceremony, guests were greeted by bookcases filled with a beautiful array of fabric covered books in complimentary floral patterns and ticking stripes that we had gathered. No two books were the same which added an element of surprise and an additional conversation piece for the guests! On the spine of the books read the guest’s names and the title escorted them to their tables. Neatly tucked in each book was also a hand made fabric bookmark that served as favors made by the groom’s mother of the corresponding fabrics we had found.
Peaches pinned with scrolled place cards sat upon mixed patterned vintage china welcoming guests to their chairs. The centerpieces sat atop jewelry boxes replicated to look like stacks of classic novels( these were later to be taken home and enjoyed by guests as a memoir of the wedding). Silver urns and trophy vases filled with fruits and flowers such as peaches, peonies, and dahlias offered a softness to the room and seemed to jump off the canvas of an old English still life painting. China tea cups accented with Peonies added to the table and invited guests to the tea station.
The custom built tea station added an element of fun and tastiness. Shelves were filled with pastries, tea cakes, scones and other delicious treats. Silver urns offered different flavors of tea, like earl grey, English breakfast and lavender.
To personalize the day even more, Wedding Dresses of the past (such as the bride’s mothers) were also displayed in front of a custom made fabric backdrop and amongst a table of family photos…next to a sign that read “a good book has no ending”.
After an evening of dining and decadent desserts the couple shared a surprise choreographed dance. Family, friends and the bridal party joined in for an enormous production. The Image is Found really captured how much fun everyone had with it. Although grand in number, with over 300 guests, It still felt as if it were an intimate event and a party that Jane Austen herself would have been pleased to attend!
Photography: The Image is Found / Cinematography: Aqua Vivus / Flowers: Robin Mathis of Twigg Botanicals / Event Design: Heather Balliet of Amorology / Event Planning: Amorology / Ceremony + Wedding Reception Venue: Rancho Bernardo Inn / Invitations and programs: Brightly Designed / Shoes: vintage / Dress: David’s Bridal / Wedding Cake: Sweet Cheeks / Desserts: Flour and Flower / Ring Pillows: Pincushion Princess / Reception paper elements + table numbers and book spine escort cards: Karisa Winkel of Pretty Handsome Paper / Bakery cabinet rentals and dessert display: Amorology