Our Wedding Reception!

Luvies, I can't believe I never posted our wedding reception! But I'm thrilled to share them with you now.  As our first anniversary {rapidly!} approaches it's so fun to look back through the images and remember the absolutely electric feeling of that night.

Key statistics: I never sat down, I never ate, I only managed to grab one drink and I never used the restroom - for six hours. And I loved every second of it!

As you probably remember - we held our wedding ceremony on a remote beach in Mexico. But still wanted to involve our entire circle of family and friends. So when we returned we threw a big ole' hometown party.









A bit about the details:
We held our reception in a fantastic urban space - a former brewery in Seattle that had amazing high ceilings, cathedral windows and concrete floors. The perfect blanks slate for me to go bananas with!

The highlight for me, and really for everyone there that night, was a looping black & white video of our wedding ceremony that we projected, movie screen size, onto one of the blank walls. The fact that could see it from the street totally rocked.

We also had a welcome table decorated with Polaroids taken from the Mexico wedding ceremony so guests could see more of the special day. Vintage postcards from all over the world served as our guest book. Fans, sombreros and chalkboard signs for available for guests to play with in our photo booth. The rest of the room was adorned with cafe tables, benches, fresh farmers market flowers and candles candles and more candles. Our guests feasted on Mexican themed treats, noshed on a dessert bar of cookies and mini cream pies and enjoyed local beer and wine, all done DIY style.

All in all, it was a fantastic party with everyone we love and care about. And there's nothing better than that!

You can check out details of our wedding ceremony in Mexico on Style Me Pretty and my tips for planning a destination wedding on Green Wedding Shoes!


Our Vendors
Photography {Visions of Romance}
Event design {me, myself and I!}
Invitations {Brown Sugar Design}
Catering {Herban Feast}
Rentals {Rented Elegance}
Flowers {me, myself and I}
Photo booth {David Ryder Photography}
Wedding dress{Robert Bullock}

Wedding Wednesday {In the Details}

For this week's Wedding Wednesday I'm so excited to share the detials of a fellow blogger and someone I'm lucky enough to now call a dear friend - Caitlin from Sacramento Street! Caitlin and I actually bonded over the joys and woes of wedding planning, as we got married within a week of eachother nearly a year ago! Her stunning wedding was just shared on Forget Me Knot and I just couldn't resist plucking a few of my favorite images to share here.

A stickler about the detials, like myself, I knew Caitlin would throw a gorgeous affair. How can you not when your setting is in wine country?!  And while her lovely personalized touches made my event planning heart pitter patter, this adorable picture of Caitlin with her dad makes my heart absolutely melt.






I only wish I could have been there to share in this incredible day with Caitlin and Eric. At least wine tasting with them this past weekend ran a close second!

Seeing Caitlin's adorable placecards, burlap runner on her lovely table setting and simple flowers reminded me how much fun I had planner our wedding AND that I never shared our wedding reception with you!

Check back later today my dears because I will {finally!} share all.

xo,
Mrs.E

Caitlin's Wedding Details:
Photography {Erin Beach}
Event Design {Caitlin Flemming}
Coordinator {Kathryn Kalabokes}
Floral Design {Natalie Bowen}
Venue + Caterer {Vintage Estates}
Makeup + Hair {Sherrie Long}
Cake/Desserts {Penelope Jane Orsini}
DJ {Denon & Doyle Entertainment}
Dress Designer {Lena Medoyeff}
Groom’s Attire {Men’s Warehouse}
Jewelry {Atelier Marisa Orbit 8 Earrings}
Officiant {James Honey}
Shoe Designer {Kate Spade}
Stationery {Cheree Berry}
Veil {Haute Bride}
Bridesmaid Dresses {Lela Rose}

Wedding Wednesday {The Best of 2010}

If you've stopped by here, really...anytime, in the last 365 days, you probably caught on to the fact that this was the year I got married. The process is an exciting, crazy, fun, overwhelming and extremely joyous experience. At least I feel lucky enough to have felt all of those emotions upon getting engaged and suddenly finding myself faced with this "momentous occasion."

But as I've said before, these days weddings can really be anything your heart desires. And for the event planner in me - this was pure heaven! I could not have had more fun dreaming up such a special experience with the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with. Not to mention playing with dresses, shoes, decor, food, paper, photography and everything in between!

So when looking back through the reams and reams of inspiration, the post below is probably my favorite moment in the whole process. When it had all come together, we were about to take off and anticipation was at its peak. It's a feeling I hope to hold onto for a very long time.

Best of Wedding Wednesday 2010
It seems a bride's work, or more accurately, a bride's brainstorming is never done. Even while I'm packing my bags for Mexico I'm still thinking of fun little details to incorporate into the big day.

Things like gorgeous hand calligraphed menus (those are my actual menus!), beautiful varieties of flowers (I ended up ordering polar star roses, ranunculus, alstroemeria and black calla lilies), fabulous shoes and gorgeous hair accessories make the day that much more personal.

1) Our wedding dinner menu, calligraphy by primele, 2) flowers by unknown, 3) manolos by elizabeth messina, 4)Mandizzle hair flower, 5) bouquet unknown and  6) sign by Tanja Lippert via erin ever after

As it has all come together, I've realized that although the wedding details are amazingly fun, what we're really planning is a moment of private commitment and collective joy. It's a special time to bring your nearest and dearest closest to you, turn to the person you love most in the entire world and devote your heart and every lasting friendship to him (or her!). It's an occasion to toast and cheer. It's the moment when you choose your family. Oh, and you get to put on a seriously rockin' dress. Does it get any better than that!? 

Well, I'll let you know in a couple of weeks! Thank you to all of my readers for your suggestions, input, advice and support. It means the world. I promise to share all when I return :) 

*E

Wow, it really was quite a ride that we won't soon forget. As an extra special treat for you, my unbelievably patient readers, here is the very first sneak-peak image of our wedding, shot by the adored Jose Villa!

The rest of the wedding will be revealed at a very special wedding blog very soon. You can also check out our engagement photo session with Jose here. The man does amazing things with a camera!

Finally, I want to say a massive thank you to every reader. Your thoughtful comments, emails, advice and  support meant the world. You were such a huge inspiration and often a huge help to me throughout the planning process and it made the whole experience that much more enjoyable.

So from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Now it's time to start planning the 1-year anniversary celebration! ;)

*Mrs. E

Wedding Wednesday {May the Best Man Win}

Awwwww, a girl and her man....


image by cooper carras via once wed

Isn't that what a wedding is really all about?!

But seriously, this pic was just too precious not too share ~ congrats to the happy couple, Katie, her actual man, John, and the uber-adorable Alfred, the lucky pug! Check out some newlywed advice from Katie, with which I totally concur, over at Snippet & Ink.

{Seasonal} Wedding Wednesday

After drooling over a unique briday party last week, I'm continuing to lust after eye catching wedding looks. One of the fabulous perks of a wedding held in a nontraditioanl time of year?



via we love pictures

A stunning nontraditional wedding dress! I love the idea of bringing in a sultry floral layer to tie in the fall foliage.

Wedding Wednesday {Down on the Farm}

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending my cousin's wedding on their very own 5-acre farm. The setting could not have been more beautiful, the weather more lovely or the homegrown details more sweet.

Here's just a little taste of the attention rhey paid to the little touches that can make a wedding so fun.





Each table had its own scape of fresh flowers, tiers of wood rounds that had been branded with the couples initials, places marked with personalized jelly-jars for your to enjoy the homemade mojitos or beer.

The uber-adorable bride and groom - be sure to take note of the hot pink kicks!



all photos by me!

And that's me and my mama on the Vespa/photobooth!

It truly was a wonderfuly fun, bright and deeply personal wedding and I feel so lucky to have been a part of it. Congrats again to my lovely cuz!

Wedding Wednesday {Dress Envy}

I was lucky enough to get to wear my wedding dress on two separate occasions. I never thought I would care about something like that, but I surprised myself by being totally thrilled to get to wear it again.

As much as I loved my dress, the amazing variety of choices out there continues to catch my eye, even four months (already 4 months!) after getting married!

This is a totally amazing nontraditional option. I want to wear it to the next wedding I go to!

photography by our labor of love via once wed

I also love this absolutely gorgeous twist on a classic.

photography by katy gray via style me pretty

You can check more of the unique backyard affair on the Our Labor of Love blog here or the beautifully classic fete on Style Me Pretty here.

Wedding Wednesday {A Fashionable Crowd}

I had an entirely different post all set for this week's Wedding Wendesday, but as I was trolling my biggest wedding photog crushes (it's a weekly ritual), I was suddenly stopped dead in my tracks.

A recent Palm Springs wedding captured by Max Wanger not only took place in one of my favorite locales, at a kick ass and take names hotel, but it also had some uber-fashionable guests! I just had to be sure you saw it.



I thought the peaches and cream bridal party was equally fabulous. Note the shoes!


all images by max wanger

Note to self, make sure to take satorialist-inspired photos of your guests at your next fete. Such a great way to get pics of friends and to capture the personality that made the event memorable!

Wedding Wednesday {A Teaser}

Our wedding photos are {finally!} trickling in and I am so so so excited to share them with you. 

I promise all the glorious details will be revealed very very soon. 

In the meantime here's a tiny sneak peak from our hometown reception to tide you over...

photography by visions of romance

Much much more to come luvies, I promise!

Wedding Wednesday {We Did It!}

Even though the wedding is over (I can't believe it!) I've decided Wedding Wednesdays need to live on. There is just too much wonderful inspiration and creativity in the wedding world to walk away from it all.

While I'm dying to share all the amazingly fun details of our our big day, we're not even done yet. We're throwing a big hometown reception in just over a week so I'm still party planning!  

I can share snapshots of our stay in Cabo San Lucas. The couple nights of rest and relaxation as newlyweds were truly divine.

I cannot wait to thank all of my amazing wedding vendors, but I have to be patient and wait until all the pictures are in. 

For now, I thought I'd thank all of you for your kind words, well-wishes and constant inspirations with a Wedding Wednesday giveaway.

I'll be announcing it in just a bit, so be sure and check back!

*The new Mrs. E

Wedding Wednesday {Something Blue}

Because of the getting married in Mexico thing, I'm lucky enough to get to wear a variety of dresses since the process of getting married is really extended over three distinct events.

I still haven't found my something blue for any of it. I wonder if it shouldn't be one of my dress options?

photos by brion hopkins, via 100 layer cake

What do you think, do I dare?

Wedding Wednesday {Real Wedding}

Yesterday, my shoes to rooms post featured Omelle shoes. Well, I actually got the inspiration from this fabulously fashionable wedding captured by the equally fabulous Elizabeth Messina.

all photos by elizabeth messina

As our wedding fast approaches the shoe hunt is officially on. I think Omelles just became a contender!

Wedding Wednesday {Real Wedding}

For a real wedding this week, I'm thrilled to feature Giao and Tony's sweet and simple Northwest wedding shot by the awesome Sean Flanigan.

Giao is a food blogger behind the fabulous kiss my spatula. (Foodies take note!) Here's what she had to say about her special day.

We were married at our favorite pier, along our favorite stretch of beach, on a small island in the Pacific Northwest, where the fir trees meet the sea.  We want something simple, timeless and full of heart.  The simple includes 6 short weeks of planning, $50 to reserve the pier, and a guest list of four.  The timeless consists of flea market finds – a vintage tablecloth, napkins, suitcases and an antique hand-crank gramophone, which plays ‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On‘ as my father walks me down the pier.

Our experience is proof that sometimes the smallest, sweetest and most intimate gatherings are also the most powerful and memorable ones.  With all the components of a larger, more traditional wedding, but executed on a miniaturized scale, we were able to soak up the fun, creativity and low stress of the planning process while fully being able to enjoy every moment of the day.  Our (little) big day was a vision we saw in our hearts and minds that we turned into a reality, all in 6 weeks time. 

Oh, and I bought my dress from JCrew Weddings (first dress I saw, on-line in 15 minutes).  I swear!!

C0ngrats to Giao and Tony and thanks to Sean for sharing a wedding that is truly heartwarming. Perfect for the holiday season, don't you agree?

You can check out more here!