Give me a wedding sprinkled with vintage whimsy, and you’ll have one happy blogger smiling at her screen. Better yet, add in two handsome grooms, colorful blooms by The Enchanted Florist and Heritage Square Museum playing backdrop, and it’s an affair that’ll be one for the books. Get your adorably quirky inspiration on in the gallery from Honey Honey Photography.
From The Groom…Ryan and I are seemingly opposites in many ways, but deep down we’re both simple guys and truly the best of friends. We met just before moving to opposite ends of the country for college. We were afraid the long distance would break us apart, so Ryan decided to get a part time job at an airline so we could fly back and forth and see each other as often as we wanted. He thought it was a practical move that would allow us to keep in touch and stay grounded, but I saw it as the most romantic gesture ever!
Our entire wedding day seems to have jumped straight from our imagination and we’re still amazed that it turned out just how we dreamed it would. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m obsessed with the old days. I could LIVE in an antique store so when it came time to plan, I knew I wanted something whimsical and classic. Emma, our wonderful photographer from Honey Honey Photography, captured the whimsy and romance, and her photos are brimming with love and happiness.
Our dream started with our venue – Heritage Square Museum, a historic site where they’ve restored beautiful Victorian homes from around the Los Angeles area. They even have a charming old chapel. I kept thinking of a scene from the movie Big Fish, where the main character stumbles into a quaint little town square and I wanted to embrace that as much as possible. I wanted our guests to feel like they were stepping back in time to a vintage town fair.
Our fantastic coordinator, Liz Coopersmith of Silver Charm Events, did a fantastic job of helping us plan everything. Guests arrived to the scent of fresh popcorn and the music of a Dixieland Jazz Band. We found a fantastic band called The California Feetwarmers who provided the perfect atmosphere for mingling, dancing and lawn games. We actually had dinner before our ceremony which worked out very well. We wanted everyone to be fed and happy so they could be truly present for the ceremony. When we walked down the aisle in front of the chapel, there was not a dry eye in the house!
Rainy and Osker from Circa Vintage Rentals designed the most beautiful lounge sets that tied the old world Americana theme together. The night ended with a brass band called “Magnitude 5” from Pasadena City College, playing a couple of old Judy Garland tunes as we made our escape in a 1947 Ford. We were so lucky to have the support of so many friends and family to make this day happen.
For the decor, I scoured ebay for vintage tablecloths to give the impression that the tables were set with textiles from grandma’s linen closet. Ryan found antique County Fair ribbons which we placed on the dessert table to give the feeling of a bakeoff or pie eating contest. Lisa, from Auntie Em’s Kitchen provided the delicious rustic wedding cakes.
For the centerpieces, I raided antiques from my dad and mom-in-law. The wonderful Kim Williams, of The Enchanted Florist, did a spectacular job creating beautiful wildflower arrangements. We didn’t really have a color scheme but I love how she drew everything together with pops of primary gold, vivid blue and vibrant red.
Our favorite moment came during dinner, when we got a chance to sit back and watch how much fun our friends and family were having. The jazz band began to serenade us with one of my favorite songs, “On Moonlight Bay” and we just soaked it all up. We fought so hard for this day – not just the wedding but for the opportunity itself, so it was such a special moment.
Our advice for planning couples is to ask for help! There are so many things we could have hired out for, but it was so much more meaningful having our friends and family pitch in. My uncle and brother built the the amazing lemonade stand, my mom sewed flags, my sister sang a beautiful song, and our dear friend Lauren was our decorator for the day. It felt like everyone had a part in some way.
Photography: Ether & Smith | Coordinator: Liz Coopersmith | Florist: Kim Williams - The Enchanted Florist | Cake: Auntie Em's Kitchen | Catering: Stonefire Grill | Venue: Heritage Square Museum | Dixieland Jazz Band: California Feetwarmers | Party Rentals: JC Party Rentals | Photobooth: Snap Yourself | Pies: Marcie's Pies | Reception Band: Downbeat La | Vintage Rentals: Circa Vintage {Rentals}