Oh Monday, how we love thee. And we love this Monday even more than most. Not only are we still toasting to the newest feature that will inspire your screens which launched yesterday, SMP at Home, we are also more than excited to share this romantic beauty by Volatile Photography. Because it is romance realized with all the pretty things we adore so much about ballroom weddings. It’s the vision of this gorgeous Bride and her pretty mama, and you can see all the prettiness they created in the full gallery!
From the Mother of the Bride… The Kohl Mansion was so beautiful that it inspired us to do a somewhat Victorian theme. We decided to go with soft tones such as champagne, blush, cream and white with touches of baby blue. We wanted the look to be elegant, soft and pretty, reminiscent of a Victorian ball. We added several personal touches by incorporating pieces from our own home to make the mansion feel even warmer. We hoped to create a feeling that our guests were in our home having dinner and a lovely evening with us. I was touched and very pleased when a guest told me exactly that. Several years ago, we attended a wedding at The Kohl Mansion. Not only was it spectacular, but also it had warmth and magic to it that we could not put out of our minds. We’ve talked about that wedding and the venue a hundred times since then. I’m sure it was always in the back of our minds that we’d love Erica to be married there. The moment she told us they were engaged, The Kohl Mansion was mentioned. Erica was thrilled at the suggestion, and we immediately made an appointment. Once we met with the absolutely wonderful event specialists, Terri and Dianne, we booked right then and there. We will never forget Erica and Aaron’s wedding day! It was a dream come true.
From the Bride… I wanted the wedding to have a very soft, romantic and vintage feeling. The venue fit this theme perfectly, and we all fell in love with it immediately. My parents and I did all of the wedding planning. My mom and I did all of the designing and picked out every last detail ourselves. We also had wonderful vendors who made helped make planning a piece of cake! The day was incredible — I couldn’t stop peeking into the dining room because it looked so beautiful! Aaron and I both have so many special memories from our big day and were so grateful to be able to share it with our friends and family. For the style of our wedding, we wanted the wedding party to look very classic and elegant. The girls wore black, and boys wore black and white. The colors we chose for flowers and linens were very soft pink, blush, champagne and cream. We wanted the theme to feel romantic and vintage.
Walking into the Great Hall at the Kohl Mansion was like walking into an formal party perhaps thrown at the turn of the century. Warm wood paneling, the dramatic six-foot fireplace and floor-to-ceiling pained windows, murals and lush draperies all lent to the mood. The gorgeous room was complemented with an abundance of soft flowers set upon champagne-colored crinkle tablecloths. The finishing touch was the dark wood chiavari chairs, which were very elegant. The mood, however, was not formal or stuffy. Good friends and family created a wonderfully happy energy. The loud buzz of chatter and laughter was music to our ears! Speeches were touching, sincere … and funny, of course. Woody from Big Fun Disc Jockeys kept the dance floor packed for the entire dance portion of the evening.
Wedding Photography: Kristy Ahumada of Volatile Photography / Wedding Venue: The Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California / Wedding Design + Coordination: The Bride + Her Mother / Floral Design: Vanda Floral Design / Officiant: Rick Whalen, A Family Friend / Wedding Cinematography: Victor, A Family Friend / Catering: Schumann’s Four Seasons Caterers / Wedding Cake: Have Your Cake / Wedding Invitations: Ajalon Printing / Menu Design: I DO Invitations by Michelle / Meal Choice Cards: DIY by the Bride / Escort Cards: DIY by the Bride’s Mother / Music + Entertainment: Big Fun Disc Jockeys / Furniture: The Kohl Mansion / Flatware, Dishes + Stemware: Schumann’s Four Seasons Caterers / Transportation: Alpha Limousine / Accommodations: The Westin San Francisco Airport / Wedding Dress: Ivy & Aster “Sweet Pea” / Bride’s Wedding Flats: J.Crew / Hair + Makeup: Lea Oberlander of Sorella / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Groom’s Tuxedo: Calvin Klein via Men’s Wearhouse / Groomsmen’s Attire: Calvin Klein