If you don’t like big, giant balloons, or cute as can be puppies or black and white stripes, well, I’ve got nothing for you, but I’m guessing there aren’t many of you (if any!) so we’re going to go ahead with this ridiculously beautiful wedding from Bridal Bliss + Ben Pigao, complete with, you guessed it, balloons, a puppy, and so many stripes!
From the stunning bride… Most brides say, “my wedding day should be the most ____ (insert generic adjective here) day of my life”. When I first sat down with my wedding planner I said, “my wedding day is the only wedding day of my life.” Our inspiration came from who Tyler and I are as a couple: sappy sentimental, country club chic meets charming comedian, gregarious golfer.
Our love bloomed in Sonoma, CA where the lush wine grapes and vineyards set up a perfect backdrop to fall in love. Eight years later; our love was ripe for the picking.
Tyler and I choose a venue where we currently reside in Portland, OR. Waverley Country Club was the home of Tyler’s parents wedding celebration (sentimental and country club chic – check.) Large crystal chandeliers accented gold décor and elegant crown molding ball rooms made for the perfect ambiance. The backdrop of the stately white mansion from 1896 is a prestigious golf course set along the Willamette River (gregarious golfer – check.) Romantic private bedrooms upstairs in the mansion meant the honeymoon suite was walking distance (charming comedian – check) and the extended, private drive into the club made for a grand entrance on its own.
The little details in the wedding were written in our programs for all guests to enjoy. My cousins rang bells to start our ceremony in loving memory of my late Grandmother. As a young girl, she would always tell me that when I got married she would be at the wedding, wearing bells. I drove up in a 1950’s Bentley with my father and descended down the aisle to “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, the first song we danced to when I was five. I walked alongside my dad in my mother’s original wedding shoes (my something borrowed.) My Lazaro gown’s sash sparkled in the sun as I moved toward my groom; we had it custom made to include my late Aunt’s ten carat blue topaz (my something blue.) My elegant orchid bouquet was wrapped in my grandmother’s handkerchief that had been passed down six generations of weddings (something old.) The ceremony began, as did the happy tears through hand written vows. My wedding band is my Grandmother’s original wedding band from my Grandfather who married in 1953 (something new.) I could hear them tear up behind me as Tyler slipped it onto my finger. The recessional song was “Signed, Sealed, Delivered” by Stevie Wonder – mirroring the processional – resembled the first song that Ty and I danced to together.
After the ceremony, we floated upstairs taking to a private dinner for two; sixty minutes of uninterrupted time to take it all in as a couple. Our guests took to the garden courtyard below where champagne overflowed and small bites kept guests busy, tipsy and mingling. Next came hilarious and thoughtful toasts, dinner and cake cutting. The floral vases on our table scape were found by Tyler and I by milk-glass vase hunting during our 15- month engagement. “Drink Champagne and Dance on the Table” illuminated our dessert display, setting the tone for continuing our celebration. Our first dance was a complete surprise to me. I let Tyler pick out our song and melted when the band started singing and we danced for the first time as a married couple (Huey, Lewis and the News “Doing it All For My Baby”).
The little details exemplified the big details. Our band kept everyone dancing past midnight and for late night snacks the local, but nationally known, VooDoo Doughnut truck treated everyone to something sweet.
Through 3 generations, Tyler and I have witnessed 280 years of beautiful vows that have lasted through life’s challenges. The guest’s smiles, laughter, energy; the dance moves, the happy tears and multiple toasts will always mark the night we committed to carrying on the tradition of life-long marriage for both of our families. We say, cheers to that!
Photography: Ben Pigao | Cinematography: Shields Films | Transportation: English Classic Limousine | Cocktail Strings: Duo Con Brio | Dessert: Blissfully Sweet | Rentals: Ohana Party Rentals | Band: Design Band | Makeup: Face, Body, Beauty | Late Night Treats: Voodoo Donuts | Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Nordstrom | Gown: Monique Lhuillier | Floral Design: Zest Floral | Wedding Planning: Bliss Bridal