Is there anything more magical than an open-air wedding reception? After seeing Lindsay + Jonathan’s celebration at a family friend’s private estate, I think not! The new Mr. + Mrs. toasted their nuptials with a garden reception catered by Events, Etc., followed by poolside dancing and revelry to the tunes of Jazz Mafia’s Supertaster. Flory Photo’s crisp shots of the evening fun make us feel like we were actually there for L + J’s California bash. (We totally wish we had been, by the way!) Anyone else notice how the bride’s adorable blue cardigan perfectly matched the lush hydrangea centerpieces? Major swoon!
Category: Real Weddings Beyond the South
When I think about a Southern wedding, I imagine an intimate backyard affair attended by the bride + groom’s closet family and friends. Add lush blue hydrangeas designed by Events, Etc., a traditional portrait collar gown from Priscilla of Boston and wheat fields ripe for picture-taking, and you have Lindsay + Jonathan’s celebration. The catch? The newlyweds (who initially met on match.com!) were married all the way out on the west coast – proof that the Southern sentiment and famed hospitality transcend geography. California-based Flory Photo documented L + J’s wedding at a family friend’s private estate, and Events, Etc. planned the West Coast celebration.
How did the two of you meet? Tell us your story. We met on Match.com. I had just moved to San Francisco and was looking to meet some new people and get a few drinks out of it along the way. My plan was spoiled when I met up with Jonathan for a beer at the Plough and Stars on Clement Street. Both conversation and beer flowed longer than planned that night. There was something there and we’re still enjoying it today.
Describe the proposal. (From the groom) I’m not able to surprise Lindsay too often – she’s much brighter than me! My first thought was to plan a backpacking trip to the Trinity Alps, but a solo couple trip could tip her off to the real motivation. As a distraction, I invited some friends, but, big surprise, they couldn’t make it. So it was off to the woods by ourselves, with a surprise in the making. Our destination was Lake Anna, an alpine lake perched a vertical mile above the trail head. It was slow going as the trail disappeared and we threaded our way through thick Manzanita. Daylight began to wane and we hadn’t reached the little alpine lake yet. In fact we sat at the base of a 300 foot scree field unsure of the exact location of the lake. At this point, the last thing on Lindsay’s mind was marriage. We scurried up the last few hundred feet of scree with the sun cresting the horizon. When we reached the top, I pulled out a Nepalese ring and kneeled (partly from exhaustion). Lindsay’s initial reaction was confusion which was overcome by joy. Success.
Our favorite detail of the wedding was: The weekend with family and friends was amazing. There were so many details that made our day special including the personal touch of our wedding at a family home, our friends playing the ceremony music, and Jazz Mafia’s improvisation of a New Orleans street band when the power went out. But the best detail was being immersed in the love of our friends and family.
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[…] WEDDING DRESS: Nicole fell in love with Stephanie’s Priscilla of Boston gown, while I loved Lindsay’s, also from POB! (Bonus: they both have straps!) Katharine loved Dana’s Rosa Clara. Save […]
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We think the reception photos of Kate + JoJo’s laid back Vermont wedding – courtesy of Jen Huang Photography – are as effortlessly lovely as the ceremony shots, but it’s the dockside portraits of the happy couple that really make us swoon. The bride, in a sweetheart dress from RK Bridal, and groom toasted their “I dos” with a tented reception at the Edson Hill Manor, where guests enjoyed fiddling, family + food. Not a bad trio, if you ask me! Marion Peer of Vermont Sweet Tooth designed cupcakes in lieu of a traditional wedding cake, and the Stray Cat Flower Farm decked the tent with fresh greens and seasonal blooms. We leave you with a colorful parting shot of the dapperly-attired bridal party in the hopes that you’re as excited for the warmer months – and Southern fashion! – as we are.
What Southern details or traditions did you include in your celebration? What was Southern about your wedding? Fiddle playing, family and food.
Tell us about finding your wedding dress: It was the most inexpensive dress I tried on! I found it at R&K Bridal and it was perfect – simple and lacy, which is all I wanted. I added buttons down the back.
Describe your wedding flowers: We got wildflowers from Stray Cat Farm in Vermont. We chose loose wildflowers and a friend arranged them on the tables the day of the wedding. Stray Cat Farm made some wildflower arrangements in tins for the altar and the buffet tables, and then they made bouquets of snapdragons, my favorite flower, in the color of the dresses/theme.
Describe your wedding cake: We had cupcakes made by a local baker, Marion Peer, of Vermont Sweet Tooth. Her cupcakes were to die for, in three flavors with buttermilk frosting: Lemony-Snicket with orange zest, carrot cake with candied ginger, and chocolate chunk.
Did you write your own vows? If so, what was your favorite phrase, verse or line? We did. We tried to center our vows on the idea that we would work together and draw strength from this day when times get hard.
What’s next for you as a couple? What are you looking forward to in the future? We are happy! We might move to a bigger apartment, but in NYC that is a bit hard to do. We hope to take a second honeymoon in Guatemala next winter.
I love this wedding. If I wasn’t already married, I would copy it exactly (hey, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?)
Oh my goodness, I REALLY want to eat that hamburger and fries.
[…] them. Nicole opted for Lindsay’s handkerchief, while Katharine fell for Lindsay’s pretty blue cardigan. Save Facebook it Tweet […]