Isn’t it just so fitting that two people who fell in love on a date to a festival would throw such a whimsical and lighthearted wedding in their backyard? Sixpence for your Shoe did an amazing job planning this special day and the multitude of pretty sorbet-colored ribbons are the cherry on top. You cannot help but smile at the images shot by Victoria Souza Photography, and not to mention the florals by Blush Floral Design are absolute perfection. This just goes to show that home is where the heart is, and that sometimes you don’t have to celebrate your love much further than your own backyard! See more colorful photos here in this happy-go-lucky gallery.
From the Bride… Kristian and I met in the workplace. Maybe as a sign that we were meant to be together, we were hired on the VERY SAME day. I always thought he was just the nicest guy; always friendly with a big smile. A year later, we had our first date at a local festival, where we both won goldfish. The next day I had gone to a pet store and bought two of the cheapest fish tanks they had. What I hadn’t noticed was the large heart molded on the side. I didn’t intend for the fish tank to have any deeper meaning, but regardless of my embarrassment, I still gave it to him. As I recall, the fish did not last that long, but Kristian did quietly hold onto his tank for the next five years. When my dad and I first moved into his new house, I remember us having a conversation about how much more room there was to host future parties. He then nonchalantly added, “You could even get married at this house!” Two years later, after Kristian proposed in the backyard garden, my dad and I knew exactly where this wedding would take place. There wasn’t a question that the wedding had to be at home, the most special place, celebrating with all of our family and friends.
From the very beginning, Kristian and I wanted our wedding to be as fun, special, and exciting as the proposal. During the initial meetings with Talia and Lindsay from Sixpence, my Dad, Kristian, and I felt like we were just spewing out adjectives like “fun”, “whimsical”, “surprising”, “light-hearted”, “whimsical – did we mention that?” Somehow Talia distilled our brain dumps, floating words, and disjointed phrases into a coherent and cohesive wedding theme. We added a ton of whimsy throughout the event. Talia encouraged us to let our inner DIY skills shine. Kristian got his hands dirty by building the ceremony arbor out of two trees from my dad’s backyard. He also created the adorable birdhouse card-box, and all of the hooks for the 50+ mason jars we had hanging everywhere. I hand painted chalkboards, the navigational signs, and the chalkboard escort tags. We worked together on creating our wedding website to give guests more information. My aunt (and M.O.H.) designed the welcome bag labels for the guests staying at the hotel, and I stuffed the bags with all kinds of goodies for our guests to enjoy.
For the ceremony we incorporated a sand ceremony, in which our parents joined together to pour a ‘foundation’ of colored sand into a glass container. It was then our turn to top it off, and get it capped by the officiant. I love looking at that keepsake every day as a special reminder of the importance of our family and where we came from. I also wore my great grandmother’s engagement ring as well as my grandfather’s wedding ring as a reminder that they were right there with us, supporting us.
The photographers, Vicki and Erik Souza, were such a wonderful team to work with. They didn’t overlook a single detail. All the planning, all the emotion, all the energy of the event was captured in their photos. Our biggest motivation was to celebrate our relationship and love while giving our friends and family the best party they’ve ever been to. We both have felt so lucky to have such an amazing support network. Before we began planning the wedding, we fretted and worried. We had all heard and seen wedding day disasters. But with the help of my dad, Talia & Lindsay, and our special vendors, our wedding day became a dream come true.
Wedding Photography: Victoria Souza Photography / Wedding Venue: Father of the Bride’s Home / Wedding Planning, Design + Stationery: Sixpence For Your Shoe / Floral Design: Blush Floral Design / Wedding Cinematography: Vantage Point Films / Wedding Catering: Emily’s Catering / Tent + Lighting: Sperry Tents / Ceremony Musicians: Judy and Mark / Reception DJ: Elegant Occasions DJ / Photobooth: Fun Photo Entertainment / Cigar Roller: La Casa Grande / Restroom: Royal Restrooms / Rentals: Party Rental, Ltd. + La Tavola Fine Linen Rental / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock via Be Unique Boutique / Bride’s Shoes: Nina / Bride’s Bracelet: LuLu Splendor / Bride’s Hair Pins: The White Dress by the Shore / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Bill Levkoff / Bridesmaids’ Shoes: Bandolino / Bridesmaids’ Bracelets: ALDO / Bridesmaids’ Necklaces: Lili Winkler Brides / Beauty: jennie fresa ~ makeup and skincare boutiquerie