Style: Modern/Rustic/Chic
Colors: Kiwi Green with Black and White Accents
Motif: Black and White Brocade

"Modern" was a no-brainer, as that is our everyday style. "Rustic" was more of a surprise - I didn't realize that I liked the rustic style until I started looking at lots of real wedding photos and kept coming back to the rustic ones. From the first moment we saw our amazing venue, which was both modern and rustic, we knew it was the one. "Chic" came in with many of the details, like the brocade tablecloths and my crystal jewelry and shoes.

The Plan:



I didn't start out wanting to be a two-dress bride, but once the City Hall plan began taking shape, my sisters convinced me that I needed to have one dress for the ceremony and one for the reception. I justified the luxury by getting fairly inexpensive dresses for both days (one was the floor model from a bridal salon, and the other I got on deep discount from Bluefly!). I also tried to economize on my shoes (I already owned one pair and got the other pair from Bluefly, along with my dress).

Clockwise From Top Left: Crystal Drop Earrings, Charles David Gold D'Orsay Heels, Nicole Miller Silk Chiffon Dress (Bust Detail), Crystal Pendant Earrings, Nicole Miller Silk Chiffon Dress (Back), Watters Silk Charmeuse Dress (Front), Stuart Weitzman Crystal Sandals, Watters Silk Charmeuse Dress (Back Detail), Nicole Miller Silk Chiffon Dress (Front)

The Real Thing:

Both dresses were perfect! Having two turned out to be great - both because the train of my first dress got pretty dirty at City Hall so I was glad to have a fresh dress for the reception - and because it was really fun to have pictures in two different dresses! At the last minute, I decided to wear a white silk shawl to City Hall (my "something borrowed", from my mom) and a light blue cardigan for the reception, both from Banana Republic.

I loved my shoes! As with the dresses, having two different pairs was so fun for the pictures.

The Inspiration:



I collected photos of hair and makeup that I liked, and a pattern quickly became evident - I liked long, thick eyelashes and low chignons with white flowers. I booked my makeup artist far in advance but decided to forgo the trial due to cost and logistical concerns.

The Real Thing:

My amazing hair and makeup artist, Sherrie Long, created exactly the look I wanted. It was very windy the day of our reception, so she recommended having my hair a little on the tighter side, which was good - a few tendrils did escape in the wind, but I kind of liked the look. The makeup was perfect - I didn't even check it thoughout the night, except once, after my teariest moment - and it still looked perfect!

The Plan:



- Black Armani Collezioni Black Stretch Wool 2-Button Suit with Flat Front Trousers (Style #2129606)
- Black Bruno Magli Oxfords
- White Brooks Brothers French-Cuff Shirt (Ceremony Only)
- Chartreuse Thomas Pink Tie (Ceremony Only)
- Dunhill Sentryman Black Resin Cufflinks (Ceremony Only)
- Blue Hugo Boss Button-Cuff Shirt (Reception Only)

He waited to get my engagement ring so that we could shop for it together (smart man!). I tried on a million different ones, but what I really liked were the diamond eternity bands, so we decided to have just one ring each. We bought them very soon after our enagagement and I started wearing mine immediately, but he of course waited until we were married. Now he keeps telling me how much he loves it!

1. We ordered the invitations, response cards, and envelopes from Wedding Paper Divas. (I realize now that I could have made them myself, but as I'm pretty busy with work, it's probably just as well!).

2. We ordered the postage stamps from Zazzle, customized with a photo of our reception site.

3. I designed and assembled the area maps. I hand-drew the maps and copied them on a regular Xerox machine. We also created a list of all the places we like in the area (restaurants, beaches, etc.), which I printed from my computer. I attached the map to one side of a #10 flat card, and the list on the other side.

4. Using a rubber stamp and a black ink pad (from Papersource), I stamped 1" white circle stickers. Using 36mm black satin ribbon, I created a belly band around the invitation and the area map, with the response card sandwiched in the middle. (I was inspired to do a belly band because of the strip of brocade pattern already on the invitations, which was covered by the belly band.) I secured the belly band in front using the stamped stickers.

5. I created an address box on the envelope using the same rubber stamp and a brush-tip black marker to do the outline. Then I calligraphed the names, printed the addresses, and added our postage stamps.

This modified DIY approach really worked for me - I didn't have the time nor the patience to go 100% DIY, but by ordering our invitations from WPD and then customizing them myself, I think we got a nice balance between professional and handmade, with the right intensity of labor for me!

The Inspiration:



We decided early on that a traditional ceremony was not a priority for either of us - and that, in fact, we wanted to be married privately, so that we could focus on each other and the solemnity of the moment. Getting married someplace beautiful was also important. Once we starting seeing photos like these of SF City Hall, we knew it was the right place for us.

The Real Thing:

We had our City Hall ceremony on Friday afternoon with just our parents and photographer in attendance. It was unconventional, perhaps, but it was incredibly beautiful and moving - exactly what we wanted. The building was even more gorgeous in person - it's a spectacular place to get married!

The Plan:



Clockwise from top left: Black Chiavari Chair with Black Pad, Essence Onyx Table Linens, Delano Modern Stemware, Oslo Flatware, White Ceramic Square China, Akira Napkins, Patterson White Table Linens, Rustic Black Bamboo Chargers, Black Glazed Stoneware China (all from Classic Party Rentals except the napkins, which I purchased - on sale! - from Crate & Barrel). 

We didn't want the placecards on the tables because it would be too cluttered, so I came up with this idea to have large tags tied to the backs of the chairs based on a photo I saw. The menus were be placed on the plates, on top of the napkins. I picked the materials for these two items to coordinate with our invitations from Wedding Paper Divas. All of our linens and dishes were black and white, so I really wanted these two items to punch up the tables and complement our centerpieces.

The Inspiration:



I fell in love with this cake the minute I saw it! It's from Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica.

The Real Thing:

Since our wedding was in Northern California and using VBS wasn't practical, we asked our incredibly skilled baker Fleur de Lisa to make us a cake similar to the VBS one. We're used marzipan instead of fondant for yumminess, and real flowers instead of the sugar one. Inside it was chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!

Cocktails

Ain't That Love - Ray Charles
Beautiful Dreamers - Grant-Lee Phillips
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Black Is The Color Of My True Love's Hair - Nina Simone
Blue Skies - Ella Fitzgerald
Don't Cry Baby - Madeleine Peyroux
Feelin' Good - Nina Simone
Fever - Peggy Lee
I've Got You Under My Skin - Frank Sinatra
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Django Reinhardt
I Get A Kick Out Of You - Dinah Washington
I Only Have Eyes for You - Ella Fitzgerald
I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl - Nina Simone
I Was Made To Love Her - Stevie Wonder
In The Mood - Glenn Miller
It's De-Lovely - Jeri Southern
L-O-V-E - Nat King Cole
Let's Misbehave - Boilermaker Jazz Band
Let's Stay Together - Al Green
My Baby Just Cares For Me - Nina Simone
Oh Yoko - John Lennon
The Way You Look Tonight - William Galison & Madeleine Peyroux
You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You - Dean Martin
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder

Dinner 1

Angel Mine - Cowboy Junkies
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Closer - Travis
Dance Me To The End Of Love - Madeleine Peyroux
The Heart of Life - John Mayer
Here I Am (Come and Take Me) - Al Green
Hey Love - Stevie Wonder
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor
In A Little While - U2
Le Chant Des Coquelicots - Amelie-les-crayons
Let My Love Open The Door - Pete Townshend
Maison de Glace / Le Printemps - Celtic Fiddle Festival
Moonglow - Benny Goodman
Oh My Love - John Lennon
Star Eyes - Charlie Parker
Swallowed In The Sea - Coldplay
Two Of Us - Aimee Mann
Wildflowers - Tom Petty
Woman - John Lennon
1234 - Feist

Dinner 2

All You Need Is Love - The Beatles
Blue Skies - Ella Fitzgerald
Close To Me - The Cure
Don't Cry Baby - Madeleine Peyroux
Feeling Good - Nina Simone
Here Comes The Sun - The Beatles
I Can't Give You Anything But Love - Django Reinhardt
It Had to Be You - Billie Holiday
Itzikel - Celtic Fiddle Festival
Kingdom Come - Coldplay
A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
Leaving Brittany - Celtic Fiddle Festival
Love and Happiness - Al Green
A Message - Coldplay
Power of Two - Indigo Girls
Running On Faith - Eric Clapton
Stand By Me - John Lennon
The Way You Look Tonight - William Galison & Madeleine Peyroux
Wild Honey - U2

Dessert

At Last - Etta James
Belle - Jack Johnson
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
By Your Side - Sade
Goodnight, My Love - Benny Goodman
Hard Times Come Again No More - James Taylor
Here Comes The Sun - Nina Simone
I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl - Nina Simone
Lord Galway's Lamentation - Celtic Fiddle Festival
Slumber My Darling - Yo-Yo Ma, Mark O'Connor & Edgar Meyer
Something - The Beatles
Something in the Way She Moves - James Taylor
Somewhere Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
The Sweetest Gift - Sade
That's How Strong My Love Is - Otis Redding
Those Sweet Words - Norah Jones
When We Dance - Sting
Where Are You Going - Dave Matthews Band
Wildflowers - Tom Petty
The Wind - Cat Stevens
You Belong To Me - Patsy Cline
You Do Something To Me - Ella Fitzgerald
You Got the Silver - Susan Tedeschi

The Inspiration:



Like many couples, we set aside a chunk of time before the wedding to take portraits together. I hate most formal portraits, but I loved these ones - they're so beautiful and evocative of the love between these couples and the emotions of the day.

[Credits include Jennifer Skog, Ann Hamilton, Ben Crisman, and Next Exit.]



It seems that in wedding photography, the groom so often gets overshadowed by the bride. I wanted to make sure we get lots of shots of my handsome guy!

[Credits include Jennifer Skog, Gene Higa, Ann Hamilton, Ben Crisman, and Next Exit.]



Aren't these photos amazing? Looking at them, it's hard not to believe that it's true that your wedding day is the most beautiful day of your life...

[Credits include Ann Hamilton, J. Crew, Tod Rafalovich, Gene Higa, Next Exit, and Anna Krupenberg.]

The Inspiration: 

 

I thought Krislyn Design's modern floral arrangements by were incredible, but a little harsh for a wedding. I sent these boards to our wonderful florist, Matika of Simply Blooms (www.simplyblooms.com) as a starting point, but I knew that Matika would put her her own spin on the ideas - I knew her work would be softer and prettier, but still modern and sculptural as we wanted. We requested that all of our arrangments be green, black, and white, with lots of non-floral materials like branches and stones.

The Real Thing:  

Our centerpieces were "natured-inspired, organic centerpieces utilizing blooms (green and white/ivory), moss, succulents, rock and/or wood…designed in matted black square container. Blooms included cymbidium orchids, peonies, ranunculus, roses and tulips. Each centerpiece was slightly different but complementing the others."

The Inspiration:

Here are some wedding things I love:
- Wedding Photographers' Blogs
- Inspiration Boards
- "Real Weddings" (e.g. on the Knot or Brides.com)
- Creative Stationary Designs
- Cool DIY Projects
- Bold Color Schemes
- Monochromatic Flowers
- Brightly-Colored Shoes for Brides or Bridesmaids
- Unusual Venues
- Old Love Songs
- Amsale Dresses
- April Reed Cakes

And some wedding pet peeves:
- Dormant Blogs (ones that aren't regularly updated)
- Unresponsive Vendors

Wedding trends I think are here to stay:
- Destination Weddings
- Non-Traditional Weddings
- Boudoir Pictures

Wedding trends I think have a shelf-life:
- Birdcage Veils
- Candy Buffets
- Colored Sashes
- Chocolate Brown and <insert bright or pastel color here>
- Christian Louboutin shoes (not that I don't I adore them - I do! - but anything that becomes so ubiquitous will eventually look dated)
- Cupcake Cakes
- Pomanders

General Wedding Websites:
Project Wedding
Martha Stewart Weddings
Brides
The Knot
InStyle Weddings
Here Comes The Guide

General Wedding Blogs:
Style Me Pretty
Snippet and Ink
The Bride’s Cafe
Something Old Something New
Junebug Weddings
Brooklyn Bride
Pacific Weddings
The Bride’s Guide
Luxe and Tux
J'Adore Details
Oh Happy Blog

Wedding Photography Blogs:
Ann Hamilton
Next Exit
Jennifer Skog
Tanja Lippert
SkyeBlu
Natalie Moser
Our Labor of Love
Augie Chang
Ben Chrisman
Lisa Lefkowitz
Orange Girl
Heather Waraska
Brooke Schwab
The Image Is Found
Jose Villa
Jasmine Star
Adeline & Grace
Blue Nalu
Gene Higa
Katie Moos
Jen Kloss

Announcements were a must for us, as we had such a small wedding, but wanted our friends and family not in attendance to know that they were remembered. We chose this beautiful letterpress design from Bella Figura (printed in green on BF's white 1-ply paper). Bella Figura was a dream to work with, and the end product was so gorgeous!

Big Sur



Our beautiful room at the Ventana Inn. To the left, out of the frame, were two enormous easy chairs in front of the fireplace.



The balcony, with hot tub and hammock overlooking the treetops.



The incredible view from Nepenthe.



The incredible view in Lucia, on our way down the coast.

Montecito



Our cottage at the San Ysidro Ranch.



The gorgeous gardens at SYR.