I have a little love affair with all things nautical so it will come as no surprise that this next little coastal gem from Studio 28 Photo satisfies my inner sea captain. Stick some gorgeous florals, an adorable couple and a slew of personal touches into the mix and you get pretty close to classic, maritime perfection. I’m a wee bit obsessed with the rope knot table numbers and may need to add that to my own inspiration folder. There is more seaside inspiration in the full wedding gallery!
Click here for more inspiration in the full wedding gallery!
Being 24, it was my goal to host a wedding that was both youthful and traditional, and that could be enjoyed by guests of all ages. For this reason, we selected the Newport Harbor Yacht Club as the venue, a venue located in my hometown and that is both warm and relaxed and yet also encompasses old-school charm. It was also our goal to infuse personal touches and create a wedding that was telling of us and our love story.
My husband and I met and fell in love at the University of California, Berkeley. Out of gratitude to the University for bringing us together, and in recognition of our shared pastime of cheering on the Golden Bears, we incorporated many UCB themes. Following the ceremony, the bridal party walked down the aisle to the UCB Fight Song, the groom was surprised with a UCB football inspired groom’s cake and guests were treated to yellow gummy bears (symbolic of the Golden Bears) as favors.
In addition to our UCB theme, we incorporated several other personal details to give our guests a greater understanding of our lives together and where we come from. In lieu of a guestbook, guests signed vintage postcards from places significant to us: UCB, Newport Beach (my hometown), Santa Barbara, (groom’s hometown), Goleta (our new home) and Saint Lucia (our honeymoon spot). We also brought in furniture from my family’s home (couches, cake table and stands, etc) and items from my parents’ in-law wedding (cake cutters) to make the venue feelfamiliar. Our personal connection to the wedding was further strengthened by the amount of DIY projects included. From the ceremony programs to the design and assemblage of the lamps (a Z Gallerie candle stick holder and Fenchel lamp shade), the wedding was a labor of love and was something we took great pride in.
However, the most important personalized aspect of the wedding was the vendors and guests themselves. We cannot thank the vendors enough for sharing their expertise and countless hours of time. You each indulged me and my love for detail, inspired me and in the end, are now family. We are also incredibly thankful to our guests, whose presence, kind words and dance moves made the wedding a success and are the reason why we will forever reflect upon the day with a smile.
Event Photography: Studio 28 Photo / Event Planning: All About You Events / Venue: Newport Harbor Yacht Club / Cake: Flour and Flower Designs / Linens: La Tavola Linens + Signature Party Rentals / Rentals: Classic Party Rentals / Florals: Dana Anderson