To start us off this week, I get to share with you all a wedding straight from the City of Angels. It’s full of city views, sunshine, and bright pops of color but it’s so much more than that. It’s also full of meaningful details (my favorite) and a beautiful tribute to the bride’s father’s New Mexico heritage, who passed away earlier in the year. I’ll let the photos by Corinne Krogh Photography and the wonderful bride, Vanessa, take it from here…
What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?
I am a visual person, so it really helped me to story board everything. I laid out swatches and photo inspirations to help guide me through the process. Keeping a schedule also helped. We had a year to plan and it went by quickly. I was glad to have friends and family send reminders like to check out dresses at a time to allow for alterations if needed, or to schedule tastings early on to give time to find another vendor if we weren’t happy. We also lucked out by having a great DOC. She gave me tips up until the wedding day and she was on top of everything the day of, which made my life so much easier.
What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?
Since we already had a concept for the wedding, it was just a matter of piecing it all together. We started with the venue. Even though we looked at a lot of venues in LA, it was the Marvimon that stole our hearts. It was the perfect place to house this earthy southwest concept. The outdoor succulent garden and the red brick walls offered an urban twist to the Navajo look we were going for. Because of the flow of the space, we could bring some of the outside magic to the indoor table settings.
We had such a specific idea for our wedding, we really needed all our vendors to not only be on the same page but be able to elevate it to the next level. Our caterers, Eco Caters, were awesome. We first became interested in working with them because they are environmentally conscious and they offered vegetarian options. However, after meeting with them they gave invaluable insight on the layout of the tables as well as fabric options for the table linens, glassware options and so much more.
It was also important for us to document the day in the best way possible within our means. After hunting for months we found a photographer who not only produced wonderful photos but also wasn’t insanely overpriced. It seemed like it was too good to be true. But when we met her, both Brad and I felt very comfortable with having her document our wedding. We were smart to trust our guts because the images she took truly captured all the candid emotion of our big day.
I think its important to stay focused on what you want out of your wedding. Have a clear idea of the kind of mood you want to set, and the design will follow. Make sure that your vendors support that. Some vendors think they know what’s best for you, without taking into account that you may have an unconventional idea of how to approach your wedding. While they are the experts and they can offer advice which may be very helpful, don’t compromise your vision for someone else’s vision.
What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?
Right away, I knew I wanted to do a southwest inspired wedding. My dad was raised in New Mexico, and it was important to me to integrate elements of his life into our wedding. I wanted to use southwestern pottery, textiles, and art in the wedding. We were so lucky that my grandma and aunt sent pottery and textiles from a Native American reservation close to where they live. This added an authentic and one of a kind touch to the design. We also wanted to make the wedding as DIY as possible. My mom really TURNED IT OUT! She hand stitched the directions, the banner, all the table numbers, each guest’s place card, the ‘Thank You’ place settings, and hand made all the dream catchers used at the place settings as well. My other aunt hand stitched all the table runners. And one of my bridesmaids made the necklaces for all the other bridesmaids.
As far as the wedding party look, we definitely didn’t want anyone to be uncomfortable. Since my then fiance ONLY wears black, we wanted the groom and groomsmen to rock black suits and skinny ties (a la ‘Reservoir Dogs’). For the bridesmaids, we didn’t want them to feel confined to one look. They all have such different personalities, so we wanted them to have free reign to pick whatever they wanted. The only guidelines were to use colors in the rust, tan, and persimmon family because of the earthy colors of the wedding. The bouquets and boutonnieres were designed to be unique and vibrant. We used unusual flowers and succulents such as pincushion proteas, artichoke succulents, billy balls and even lotus pods. As for the bridal look, I wanted to reflect a fun, girly, yet unique vibe. My lacy blush colored gown, dainty heels, gold headband and long curly hair made me feel like a modern princess.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding?
It’s hard to pin point one favorite thing. We got so much help from our friends and family (our DOC as well as all of our vendors were amazing too) that it felt as though the event was virtually seamless. Though we had a few “Ooops!” moments, no one really got hung up on the glitches. Our goal was to celebrate our commitment and devotion to one another and our guests really had a chance to see how much Brad and I truly love each other. Our approach was to steer away from the ceremony of it all and focus on the fun aspects of what makes a wedding.
The best times for me were when I was with my husband. When we said our vows, when we hid away in the bridal chamber right after the ceremony just to be alone and relax, when we sang Van Morrison and Queen to our friends and family together, all of those moments were the best parts for me.
What is your best piece of advice for other brides?
It was important to us to set a casual yet elegant atmosphere for our friends and family so everyone would feel at home. Prior to the day of we heard from so many people that the wedding day comes and goes like a flash. That statement could not be more true. My advice for any bride-to-be is to make your day your own. Make sure to take the time, no matter how hectic it gets, to appreciate each other. Don’t sweat the hitches that may happen, they only make your day more memorable. And just have fun!
There really is so much to love about this wedding. The hand-stitched signs and DIY details, those amazing masks a la Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the so-in-love bride and groom. I could look at these photos all day! A big thanks to Corinne Krogh Photography for sharing them with us. And to Vanessa for her amazing answers to our questions (ahem, did you catch that part about the day of coordinator?!). :)
xo-Kristine
Vendors who made it all happen…
Latest posts by Kristine (see all)
- Hot Pink and Navy Georgia Wedding - December 7, 2012
- Yellow, Red, and Orange Mexico Destination Wedding - November 30, 2012
- Purple and Blue Jewel-Toned Florida Wedding - November 16, 2012
Oh my gosh, those table numbers are beyond! What a gorgeous wedding :-)
Thanks so much for the feature ladies! :)
This wedding was absolutely amazing! I’m so happy that i was lucky enough to be a part of the magic!
this is sooooooo gorgous!! wow!! i love everything!
So many details to love!! Beautiful wedding! Love the masks, awesome!
LOOOOOOOOOOVE those bridesmaid robes! Those are the cutest I’ve ever seen.
LOVE those bridesmaids dresses.
Love the dress!