We’re calling it, Bride’s everywhere will be rocking a topknot in 2016. Take this Parisian garden party celebration as proof. Captured by the talented Jeff Sampson Photography this is one stylish celebration that you won’t want to miss. See it all elegantly unfold in The Vault!
From the Bride… Tony and I met at our first job at a local supermarket in Orange City IA in 2007 when we were both 16. Within a month of working there we started dating and have been together ever since! After 7 years of being together we were ready to plan our big day.On October 18, 2014 he proposed with a kitten. The kitten had a collar around it’s neck that read, “Will You Marry Me”. How could I resist that?! Of course, I said yes! We named him Norman and he is the sweetest most lovable cat! It was the best proposal I could have asked for.
My mom, sister, and I have owned Chrysalis Bridal Salon in Orange City, IA for the past 5 years so it was so exciting to finally plan a wedding that was my own! After going through the process of being engaged and getting married I feel like a have a better understanding of what our customers are actually going through. Since we own a bridal shop, my wedding dress options were endless. I actually picked my dress from a picture from one of brands we carried (Maggie Sottero) and never tried it on before ordering it. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was the one I had been searching for dreaming of. I chose a metallic floral ball gown with a detachable beaded jacket. I wore the jacket for the ceremony and took it off for the reception. It was so me and I have never seen a dress like it! Since I work with my mom and sister everyday they helped me plan about every aspect of my wedding. Because we are in the wedding industry I knew which vendors I wanted to use right away and once the date was set and everything fell into place.
On October 3, 2015 we got married at Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA, with 150 of our closest friends and relatives celebrating with us. I attended Dordt College and graduated in 2014 and have always thought it was a beautiful campus. The ceremony took place in the Dordt College campus center and the reception took place in a white tent right behind on the campus lawn. The campus center is a room with large open windows which showcased the beautiful fall trees outside. I had tall silver metallic candlesticks down the aisle and had large floral arrangements on top of the stage. I had 2 bridesmaids who were my sister and sister in law who wore tulle latte bridesmaid dresses with an appliquéd bodice from Watters. I picked the bridesmaid dress before my wedding gown which set the color tone for our wedding. Tony’s brother and my brother in law wore black tuxes and a skinny black tie.
At the reception our theme was a Parisian garden party. My family and I had traveled to Paris the year before and I loved the romantic feel of the city. I also wanted to incorporate soft and feminine colors including rose gold, gold, and silver mixed with neutrals of taupe and blush pink. The centerpieces included glass candelabras and tall floral arrangements assorted with white roses, hydrangeas and quicksand roses. Every guest had a bell jar with macarons inside of it next to their dinner plate. Our European vacation led me to love macarons and I knew that I somehow wanted to incorporate them into my wedding. Around the tables were gold bamboo chairs and a large gold chandelier in the middle of the tent. The head table was adorned with a large bay leaf garland down the center. The chandelier in the middle of the tent brought everything together. The catered meal included a pasta and salad bar. For dessert we had a coffee and cupcake bar. Our engagement photos were taken at a coffee shop so we used these photos as décor at the coffee bar. We wanted our guests to feel like they could get up and mingle whenever they pleased and were in a casual, intimate atmosphere. We left our reception running through a lighted balloon send off. Looking in our rear view mirror we could see balloons drifting up into the sky for miles. Our wedding day went perfectly and looked exactly as I imagined it! My favorite part of the wedding was entering the reception after the ceremony and seeing the vision of the wedding I had been planning for a year come together so beautifully and was now a reality.
Photography: Jeffrey Sampson Photography | Floral Design: Ground Effects | Ceremony Venue: Dordt College | Reception Venue: Dordt College | Hair + Makeup: Studio South | Gown Boutique: Chrysalis Salon