Colorful Autumn Wedding In Orange County
You couldn't ask for a prettier day than this -- 75 degrees, palm trees, and uninterrupted blue skies. It's worth swooning over without evening mentioning her Mori Lee gown and vintage accessories from Jewelsalem. Kite Flight Films' video really makes you feel like you're there too (nice for us). But if you still want more check out the whole gallery of breezy goodness from OneLove Photography.
From the Bride... Because our fall wedding was in sunny, warm Orange County, I loved having the freedom to run wild with deep, bold hues while also not be afraid of keeping it bright. As a crafty couple, we knew we could DIY many details, taking on many of the decorative projects on our own. I’m a southern belle, and flew my creative mother from South Carolina to SoCal and in one weekend, and MANY craft and thrift store visits later, we had the beginning pieces of what became our dream wedding. The rustic Talega Country Club in San Clemente, CA offered the perfect ambiance for the big day: Rich dark woods, stained glass chandeliers and the most beautiful palm tree hugged backdrop. It couldn't have been a bluer sky fall day and we're so thankful that Onelove photography was there to beautifully capture every moment!
As lovers of the sea, we chose to get ready at the vintage, art loving 'Laguna Riviera' hotel, in the heart of Laguna Beach, with its charming hand painted coastal murals and the vintage feel of what a hotel built in 1948 hotel offers. We loved being beachside to take wedding party photos and do our ‘first look’.
I have always loved dried flowers so we decided to use all dried and sola flowers for our wedding. I had never seen this done…unique in every way!
My bouquet was an Etsy buy from a dried flower specialist in Michigan. …And the lavender, oh sweet smelling, beautiful lavender! I bought dried lavender bundles and handmade the bridesmaid bouquets and boutonnieres. Lace printed ribbon tied everything together beautifully. A lavender toss welcomed as husband and wife after the ceremony and was a 'picture perfect' moment for our photographers.
Personalizing our runner was something I envisioned while attending other weddings...I had never seen it done. I painted a verse onto it which is significant in our lives so walking down the aisle, over such sweet words, was an incredibly special moment.
We handmade hundreds of vases to use as centerpieces. Some we painted with glass paint and we covered others with beautiful hand screened wrapping paper. The clusters of eclectic vases filled with candles and dried flowers came together to make beautiful centerpieces without spending a fortune.
I chose my dress because it was simple enough to accompany my bright accessories, which I knew I wanted to wear before I even started dress shopping. The silhouette and lace up corset was the perfect touch of vintage I was looking for. My veil was a splurge, but worth every penny. The quality and beauty of the lace was stunning. Although I didn’t cry when I found my dress, the tears streamed as I tried on my veil with the dress for the first time.
We wanted everyone attending to know they were family so kept ceremony seating casual and family style long tables for dinner. Yard games kept the vibe fun during cocktail hour and our signature cocktail ensured the dancing went on well into the night.
So on a 75 degree November day, underneath two California palm trees, we said I do with our dearest friends surrounding us. Each detail well worth the hours of cutting, sewing, painting and planning. I know every girl says their wedding was perfect. Was ours perfect? Of that I’m unsure. I just know our day was perfectly and uniquely “us”.