When given a completely blank canvas at Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre, Alessia used her interior design skills to create a home-away-from-home vibe inspired by Scandinavian minimalism and rustic-meets-boho decor that was as stylish as it was cozy. The couple brought in leather poufs, wood pallet tables, Moroccan-inspired textiles, gold geometric accents, and tons of candles, which set a wildly romantic mood. Our Little Flower Company also infused an enchanted forest feel into the tablescape design with moss runners accented with pinecones and roses, as well as into the bouquets by using a mix of deep green, brown, ivory, orange, and red foliage. The flawless mix of styles had us swooning from the very beginning, SambaJoy Photo & Art‘s creativity was the perfect match for capturing the unique feel and design of this Vancouver wedding!
The most important thing in planning our wedding was really just capturing the essence of us as a couple, and allowing the guests to get a glimpse into our love story through the little details. In terms of what aspects of the wedding we focused the majority of our attention on, I would say the design aesthetic of both the venue and ceremony, good food, and good music!
Regardless of how beautiful and amazing everything was, Josh and I both agree that the best part of our whole day was saying our personal vows to one another during the ceremony. It took us a while to decide whether or not we wanted to do personal vows because of the stress and hassle of writing them and then saying them in front of so many people but, in the end, it was one of the best decision we could have ever made! It’s such a beautiful memory now that we will get to look back on for the rest of our lives, and be reminded of our love for one another.
From the beginning, we knew that we had to find a venue that was not only gorgeous but also large enough to fit our huge Italian and Dutch families. I combed through hundreds of different venue options but kept coming back to the Roundhouse, which I had been in love with for years. Being an interior designer myself, the aesthetic of the venue was very important to me, and I wanted a place that was more or less a blank canvas that could be molded completely into my personal vision. It was perfect with its high ceiling, wooden beams, concrete floors and brick walls. The only downside to the Roundhouse is that you have to be willing to wait for it. It is a very popular location for events, so they only have space for a few weddings a year. If you have the time though it is so worth the wait!
At the time, I was super inspired by Rustic Scandinavian design, so the vibe kind of stemmed from that. Other concepts/elements that I played with in the design were Boho, Nordic, Enchanted Forest, Woodland, and Autumn. I wanted the space to feel warm and inviting with things that caught and excited the eye in every corner of the large space.
We gave everyone a bottle of rosemary infused olive oil that we made ourselves. The reason we went with the olive oil was to bring a bit of my Italian heritage to our special day. We also wanted to give something useful rather than just a trinket that gets thrown into the back of a cupboard and never seen again.
Between the rustic outdoor ceremony, the photo ops in the woods, and the abundance of natural greenery, Jessica and Tyler created an elegant feel with an earthy twist in their wedding at Hidden Pond. Because the couple chose an autumn wedding date, their outdoor ceremony was accented with the yellows, reds, and oranges of nature, which looked gorgeous against their classic sage and white color palette. They also used seasonal artichokes, succulents, mini trees, and white roses designed by F… As in Flowers to bring a rustic feel to their marquee reception. Although there was a classic feel, this wedding was anything but ordinary and included both a live painter and a surprise dance performance! We simply can’t get enough of the unexpected details and romantic moments that Emily Delamater Photography captured of this beautiful autumn wedding in Maine!
The most important thing for us was bringing together our amazing families and friends. We celebrated 15 years together at the time of our wedding and along the way, we have developed so many lifelong relationships and friendships. We wanted to celebrate everyone that has been there throughout the years to support us and our life together. The best part of the weekend was watching everyone come together and celebrate with us.
Personalizing the ceremony was really important to us. We asked our very close friends to officiate the ceremony. They included personal stories of our travels together and really put so much thought into it. We were so honored that they would be part of our special day and we couldn’t think of anything better than having them share it with us.
As a way of including my mom, our wedding planner saved a seat for her in the front row. We had a carnation bouquet in purple (her favorite) and we draped the chair with greenery in her memory. Seeing that empty chair was so bittersweet for me, but we’re so happy we included her.
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to wear a Vera Wang wedding dress. In fact, in 2011 (long before we were engaged), I emailed my mom and sister a picture of a dress that I loved from Vera’s site, but never really thought about it after that.
Fast forward 6 years later, I was planning our wedding and I visited almost every boutique in San Francisco except Vera Wang. I didn’t know if they made that dress anymore and I wasn’t sure how her dresses would look on me. I was about to purchase another dress at a local boutique when I decided to book a last minute appointment at Vera Wang. At least if I didn’t find my dress there, I could say that I had the experience of going.
When I walked in, there was a dress that instantly caught my attention, so I asked to try it on. I instantly fell in love. I even video chatted with my sister to show her the dress and she loved it too. It was at that point that I remembered the wedding dress I showed my mom from 2011 and I pulled up a copy of the picture on my phone and showed a picture to the sales associate. The wedding dress that I tried on in the store was the same dress I showed my mom years earlier! I knew it was a sign and this was my dress. It was a really special way of including my mom on my special day without her being there.
Because we got married in Maine, lobster had to be on the menu. We upgraded a traditional lobster bake with roasted potatoes, corn salad, broccoli kale salad, Meyer lemon roasted chicken, vegetarian paella, New England clam chowder and butternut squash bisque. For the cocktail hour, we had a raw bar, cheese display, and some passed hors-d’oeuvres. For dessert, we had a three-tiered cake, but we also had glazed apple cider donuts, blueberry tarts, and pumpkin rolls. Everything was delicious!
We hired a live event painter for the reception. Everyone would walk by the painter and see her capturing the evening. It was such a treat.
The biggest surprise of the night was when we brought out a dance troupe. It was close to Halloween and Tyler thought it would be fun to hire dancer dressed as zombies to dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The dancers snuck into the barn and completely scared our guests and broke out into a dance. It was so much fun!
Ceremony arches continue to be a favorite trend in wedding decor, and 2018 has been the best yet for inspiration! We’re seeing more couples add unique twists to the shape and design of their ceremony arch to make it fit their style and stand out from anything we’ve seen before. From a-frames to cascading florals to shapes that redefine the idea of a traditional “arch,” we’re so impressed with the ways couples are reimagining this classic decor piece. So, without further ado, here are the ceremony arches that have made the biggest splash in 2018 — and, we imagine, will keep popping up all year long!
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