Our favorite moment of the night was the raging dance party that broke out the instant we were done with our mother/son and father/daughter dances. All of our family and friends were so happy to be there with us and having such a good time that it made the night a blast and absolutely perfect.

The menus were screen printed on wood rounds by James (the groom).

Cfhristina’s family brought typical Ecuadorian sweets in for the desert station.

What makes 31 Bits even more spectacular is that they are made by women in Uganda–so you not only get a beautiful piece of jewelry, but you are also helping women in Africa make a living for themselves.

Together we created a magical Secret Garden styled shoot infused with details right out of the story, vintage inspired keys and our favorite the charming Robin bird that befriended Mary as she and her friends brought their beloved garden back to life.

LOVE the homemade backdrop!

Love the Washington state pie plate!

Venue: The Space, Opera Alley  // Food: Masa // Flowers: Friends and Family // Pies: Friends and Family // Bride’s Dress: BGCB // Groom’s Apparel: Ben Sherman, Penguin Tie and Too Boot New York Shoes // Photography: One Love Photo

Here is what Commonwealth Vintage Rentals had to say about it: The land and the season were the driving force behind this shoot. We wanted to pair the deep, rich colors of Fall with the sweet, softness of the morning. We liked the idea of having the couple share an English style breakfast, incorporating a few vegetables for a twist.

As we were on a farm, we wanted to use rich, organic materials which manifested itself in the loose and draping floral design, a fur wrap, and cozy blankets. Our florist owns two adorable pygmy goats and brought them along to incorporate into the shoot. They brought such a whimsical element with necklaces made of Hopps and were perfect subjects for the couple to interact with. We appreciated the ability to embrace the beauty of the land with only mild décor and still being able to make the statement we were hoping for.

photography: Athem Photography // rentals + set design : Commonwealth Vintage Rentals // floral design: Forest and Field // written accessories + illustration: Bethany Gosvener // wardrobe + styling: Jade Rose // dress: Sarah Seven // hair + makeup artist: Renee Schwab // models: Jake Bradley and Monica Renee Watson

It’s also just as easy as pinning—all you do is create a registry (which takes all of 30 seconds) and then start shopping. You can add items from any shop on the web and they also have sample registries that you can “repin” gifts from. You can even register for your honeymoon—spa anyone?  If you are running low on cash while planning your wedding? With Astoria Roads you can cash out gifts before or after being purchased. You don’t have to worry about hassling your guests with extra steps, because they will be checking out directly with Astoria Road.

Today Astoria Road is going to give one reader a $75 amazon gift card!! To enter head over to Astoria Road and create a registry (it really only take a few seconds) and register for one item. Then come back to Love and Lavender and leave us a comment telling us your username. We will pick a winner next Friday!

PS. Check out my registry here!

As our guest book, we had two polaroid 300 cameras and a photo spot instructing guests to take one for them and one for us.  We had gold yarn strung along the wooden wall with little gold clothes pins for people to pin their photos too.  We also had strips of fabric with thin sharpies for friends to write notes.  The polaroids turned out great and it was so fun going through all of them the next day. 

I love nature and the beauty of trees especially, so when we were planning our invites we wanted something that would be a good representation of that.  A friend of mine, Reyna, created an image of redwood trees surrounded by stringed lights that we used on just about everything we could! 

Our family and friends are very important to us and we wanted to incorporate as many of our friend’s talents and other personal touches as we could.  We also really wanted our wedding to be as fun and light-hearted as it could while still being romantic.  We asked my brother in law to marry us because he is someone we respect very much and never fails to keep us laughing (a good thing for calming wedding nerves!).  He ended the ceremony by reading his “top 5 ways to end the ceremony other than with a kiss”.  While he thankfully ultimately let us kiss we had a good laugh and it helped remind us of what we love most of all which is having fun with the ones we love.

We named our 5 long tables after flowers that were taped to the seating chart with washi tape.   Guests could find their seat by looking for the table that was decorated by that flower.  Some of the flowers were chosen for a significant reason, like Gardenias for the table with the mother of the groom because they are her favorite, but others were just chosen because I think they’re pretty. 

We used mexican-style blankets with guest’s names stamped on them as our place cards.  The blankets doubled as our favors and also helped keep guests warm once the sun went down. 

A few of our friends have taken up brewing their own beers, even selling them at local bars.  We often go to their house and taste the latest creation and are always pleased, so we were thrilled when they told us their gift would be homebrewed beers for the reception.  They brewed His and Hers beers with flavors that matched our personal tastes (coconut brown and white peach!).  They surprised us by naming and labeling the beers with names that payed homage to the fact that we met while performing as dance partners in the show Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

I would recommend that couples planning their wedding on their own set a deadline for projects that is well before their date and don’t be shy about asking for help.  No one wants to be spray painting the week of the wedding, especially if friends and family from out of town are visiting.  On the day of, the small details seem so insignificant next to the joy of being surrounded by everyone you love.

Photography: Onelove Photography // Coordinator: Diane Allen // Make Up: Chris McDonald // Hair: Phoebe Seligman of Watermelon Sugar Salon in SF // Cake: Banana Cake from Icing on the Cake // Caterer: Paradise Catering // Videography: Max Wong // DJ: Zack “X” Soltes // Dress Designer: Jenny Packham // Flowers: Bunches // Groom’s Attire: JCrew // Save the Date:  Ginger at Serendipity Beyond Design // Invitation: Kristine Claghorn // Rentals:Unlimited Rentals // Mexican Blankets:Sunshine Yoga

Here is what Forever Photography had to say about it: Bonni and Madeleine of Posey Floral and Event Design decided to team up with Forever Photography, Bird Dog Weddings and Katie Kime to create our first “Pop Up Social”.  The intention was to create a festive and inviting atmosphere that allowed for creative freedom from each contributor.  We chose Contigo as our first venue for its relaxing vibe and beautiful  setting (not to mention great food and drinks!).  We then decided on a “Hacienda” theme and  from there we let each contributor on the loose to bring whatever they chose for the event.  When the day came, we all gathered at Contigo, with our decor and began styling the table.  It was fun to see how each person interpreted the theme and to see the four different styles come together in one setting.  After Jona and Jerry from Forever Photography took some initial shots we sat down and enjoyed drinks, snacks and the setting!

The Grand Canyon is a really romantic location to say your “I dos” (especially at sunset).  And with fabulous extras like a cake, flowers, and champagne you can definitely create the perfect ambiance for your day!

With the Red Sandstone as the backdrop, your vows will be that much more memorable! Your trip will take you over the Hover Dam, Lake Mead, and finally to your ceremony site in the Valley of Fire.

What about saying your vows in the sky above the sparkling Las Vegas Strip at twilight? It will definitely take your love to new heights! This experience will be a start to your married life you will never forget! Who wouldn’t want both the Eiffel Tower and the Manhattan Skyline as the backdrop of their ceremony?

With these three amazing locations and the different packages available you will not only feel like royalty on such an important day, but also have an experience like no other! So make sure to check them out.