Sometimes my job is hard. I know, I know – you probably think I’m being overly dramatic, but when I get a group of images from Erich McVey Photography as gorgeous as these with styling by A & B Creative so perfect I want to recreate it in my own life – it’s hard to do it all justice. Impossible really. So I’ll leave you with this gallery – it’s so lovely you might find yourself clicking through it over and over as you discover layer after layer of understated elegance – and trust me, you won’t be alone. See so much more here!
From A & B Creative… The very first design element to this shoot was the location. Living in Oakland, I am always in awe of what gorgeous little hideaways there are, and how different it is from what people generally associate the area with. San Francisco so often gets all of the bay area wedding glory, but it’s my favorite city in the east bay and I wanted couples to fall in love with it as much as I have!
Lake Merritt, often referred to as “The Jewel of Oakland,” is the perfect location for an Oakland wedding because it has everything: old world European charm, gorgeous city views, amazing food and best of all — the getaway transportation is a gondola! The styling and design for the shoot was inspired by what makes the area so amazing: European meets Oakland charm.
The design and styling is an Oakland love story: a sweetheart table featuring locally-bottled wine, local flowers and the same intertwining of old world Europe with California vintage. This wedding begins at Lake Chalet with a ceremony on the dock overlooking gorgeous Lake Merritt right in the heart of Oakland. The serene city view is the perfect backdrop for a modern, city-dwelling couple. Walking around the lake, there are gorgeous, Spanish-style columns, pergolas and fountains, making for the perfect juxtaposition against the tall, modern office buildings. The couple ends their perfect day by riding off in their very own private gondola.
Photography: Erich McVey Photography / Photo Shoot Venue + Catering: Lake Chalet in Oakland, California / Styling + Design: Rebekah Carey McNall of A & B Creative / Floral Design: Gorgeous and Green / Cake: The Whole Cake / Vintage Furniture Rentals: Mignonne Decor / Wedding Dress: The Limited / Bride’s Bolero: Anthropologie / Bride’s Getaway Outfit: Vintage / Bride’s “Mrs.” Necklace: Kate Spade / Makeup: Nikol Elaine Artistry / Groom’s Attire: Vintage / Model Bride: Paige Ricks / Model Groom: Ian Simmons