I’m going to start this happy dance of a wedding off with a quote from the Bride and I know that is so 10th grade English of me but I’m going to do it anyway. ” I wanted my wedding to feel like you walked out of a J. Crew catalog into an Anthropologie catalog and had an intense desire to play croquet.” Perfection and totally sums up this day shot by Julie Harmsen Photography. It’s bright, shiny, and ever so happy despite the rain clouds and there is a whole lot more of it in the gallery.
Click here to see the entire gallery of images!
From the Bride…My wedding inspiration started where all wedding inspiration should start: on Etsy. I found a ridiculously expensive pair of fabric bird cake toppers and fell in love with love birds. My mom recreated (and outdid) the cake toppers and eventually made 14 more sets to use as centerpieces. From there, the bird theme fell into place – a birdcage for cards, custom love bird invitations (thanks to the fabulous Michelle Lenger), the “yellow bird” specialty drink, bird whistles to whisk us into the night. Basically, it was a giant love bird fest. Let’s just be glad I didn’t discover the perfect feathered encrusted wedding dress that I searched for.
I wanted my wedding to feel like you walked out of a J. Crew catalog into an Anthropologie catalog and had an intense desire to play croquet. Sadly my lawn games were rained out and tornado warnings preempted the outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour. But my wedding was absolutely perfect. We laughed and ate s’mores and played in the rain and danced the night away.
My advice to brides: plan the wedding that you absolutely are in love with. Even though my outdoor ceremony was moved into the foyer with standing room only for guests, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I would regret it more if I played it safe, listened to my mother, and planned an indoor wedding. Instead we had a wedding that everyone will remember (who starts cocktail hour and announces the soon to be bride and groom before the ceremony?). Plan the wedding of your dreams – and if you’re like me from the hundreds of photos saved off wedding blogs – but be ready for tornadoes and plan B or C…or maybe even D.
Wedding Photography: Julie Harmsen Photography / Florals: Gerri Morgan / Event Planning: Bride and Mother of the Bride / Location: Felt Mansion / Wedding Invitations: Michelle Lenger / Bride’s Shoes: Style & Co. / Wedding Dress: Morilee Madeline Gardner / Bride’s Hair + Make-up: Emily Hayes at Capelli Salon