A Modern Wedding with a Classic Twist
This wedding had me at dinner plate dahlias and from there it just kept getting better and better. With Jen Wojcik Photography on hand capturing every wonderful detail (like those incredibe terranium centerpieces from Cost Plus!), this is one celebration that you'll want share pronto. See it all in The Vault!
From the Bride...It all started in little Hermosa Beach, California where Kevin and I first met through some friends. After a few years of post-college bliss in a small beach town, we decided to pack up and move across the country to NYC. I'm from Los Angeles and Kevin grew up in New Jersey, so he really wanted to spend a few years back east before we settled down somewhere. Fast forward a year to a casual walk through Central Park when Kevin proposed in front of the Conservatory Pond! Together with our jeweler, Kevin designed a beautifully vintage, yet modern engagement ring, which was really the catalyst for most of my design inspirations.
Thankfully, Kevin agreed that we should have the wedding in Southern California, and we settled on the historic and quaint little town of San Juan Capistrano. Because we had people traveling across the country, I wanted the wedding to feel undeniably California; relaxed and inviting, but still chic and contemporary. My main inspirations came from watercolors, geometric shapes, and edison lights. I love the juxtaposition of old and new, as well as industrial vs. Romantic, so I combined a lot of those looks for various aspects of the wedding. The Franciscan Gardens' lush greenery was a perfect canvas for me, as I was able to bring in some eclectic pieces and add a little whimsy to it. I can't say enough about this beautiful venue tucked away behind downtown San Juan Capistrano; even that juxtaposition was on theme!
I had my hand on every detail of the wedding, but was able to relax a bit during the final stretch, mostly due to good organization and amazing vendors. I'm not the best delegator, as I like to do things myself (I even hand water colored my own escort cards!), so handing such important aspects of the wedding off to people was not the easiest thing to do. Every single vendor though, specifically my photographer, florist and coordinator, were so wonderful to work with, and truly wanted me to have the best day of my life. I took some time early on in the process to interview a few vendors in each category, so when it came time to clearly convey my vision and hand over the reigns to them, I felt more than comfortable doing so. Find people who sincerely love what they do, and I have no doubt that they'll come through for you in the end!
My other advice for brides-to-be is simple, and I'm sure you've heard before; remember to slow down and take everything in! Because it's such a magical day, I felt like I was floating above everything as if I was in a dream-like state. I had to deliberately bring myself back down to earth, and fully immerse myself in each beautiful moment. At one point during the day Kevin and I stood alone on the balcony overlooking the reception, and without saying a word to each other, both realized how lucky we were to be at that exact moment in time. Remember that everyone is there to celebrate you and your fiancé, so be sure to accept their love and support, and let it fuel your relationship for years to come!
Thankfully, Kevin agreed that we should have the wedding in Southern California, and we settled on the historic and quaint little town of San Juan Capistrano. Because we had people traveling across the country, I wanted the wedding to feel undeniably California; relaxed and inviting, but still chic and contemporary. My main inspirations came from watercolors, geometric shapes, and edison lights. I love the juxtaposition of old and new, as well as industrial vs. Romantic, so I combined a lot of those looks for various aspects of the wedding. The Franciscan Gardens' lush greenery was a perfect canvas for me, as I was able to bring in some eclectic pieces and add a little whimsy to it. I can't say enough about this beautiful venue tucked away behind downtown San Juan Capistrano; even that juxtaposition was on theme!
I had my hand on every detail of the wedding, but was able to relax a bit during the final stretch, mostly due to good organization and amazing vendors. I'm not the best delegator, as I like to do things myself (I even hand water colored my own escort cards!), so handing such important aspects of the wedding off to people was not the easiest thing to do. Every single vendor though, specifically my photographer, florist and coordinator, were so wonderful to work with, and truly wanted me to have the best day of my life. I took some time early on in the process to interview a few vendors in each category, so when it came time to clearly convey my vision and hand over the reigns to them, I felt more than comfortable doing so. Find people who sincerely love what they do, and I have no doubt that they'll come through for you in the end!
My other advice for brides-to-be is simple, and I'm sure you've heard before; remember to slow down and take everything in! Because it's such a magical day, I felt like I was floating above everything as if I was in a dream-like state. I had to deliberately bring myself back down to earth, and fully immerse myself in each beautiful moment. At one point during the day Kevin and I stood alone on the balcony overlooking the reception, and without saying a word to each other, both realized how lucky we were to be at that exact moment in time. Remember that everyone is there to celebrate you and your fiancé, so be sure to accept their love and support, and let it fuel your relationship for years to come!