Black and red color palette combined with a garden setting seems so random, but we’re just scratching the surface on the variety of details this awesome wedding has provided us today. Like for example, some of the bouquet’s flowers were made out of pages from a The Lord of the Rings book because our bride is a big fan of the series. Then, the reception’s backdrop was made out of paper cranes because our couple wanted their day to have a little bit of Asian touches. And lastly, that sweet treats bar just looks so scrumptious. Most of the details in this wedding are DIY so look out for ideas! Plus, we’re lucky enough that our bride shared with us the particulars on how they did it. Congratulations Julia & Brandon!
What is your story as a couple, how did you meet & fall in love?
Brandon and I when to BCIT(college) together. We were tool box partners for 3 years in the Automotive Service Technician program. I was completely clueless that he had a crush on me. So when he asked me out before school ended I was totally caught off guard. We had been friends and I didn’t want to mess that up, but on the other hand he was an amazing guy. So I decided to take the chance. I am glad I did. I was hooked the first night he made me dinner. He was still living at home with his parents and brother. He made me chicken Fettuccine Alfredo (my favorite) and we ate in his room. He had made a table from a laundry basket and a bucket (I had no idea till after, when he pulled the tablecloth off). He had me sit with him and his brother was our waiter for the evening. Complete with a little apron and a towel over his arm when he poured the wine. With Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red playing in the background I couldn’t help but fall in love.
What makes the two of you a perfect match?
We both have pretty laid-back personalities. Him more so than me. And we have the same silly twisted sense of humour. We make each other laugh and that’s the most important thing in a relationship. To have those wonderful, uncontrollable bouts of laughter, that last so long you don’t remember why or how they started. He is my best friend.
How did he (or you) propose?
One of my friends suggested that we go on a dinner cruise for new years eve. I had mentioned it to him but he didn’t seem to interested. I didn’t know that he later called my friend and told her he wanted to propose on the cruise ship. She texted me a couple of days later and told me she went ahead and bought the tickets. I was worried because Brandon hadn’t agreed and the tickets cost $150 each! He played it of in his laid-back style and said it was okay. My friend kept asking me what I going to wear and insisted i wear a red dress to match my hair(which was streaked at the time). I agreed and she came over to do my makeup. Brandon ironed my red silk dress the night of and accidentally got water on it, so it stained. I couldn’t wear it, but no big deal to me. We went downtown and had dinner. After dinner Elvis’s can’t help falling in love came on and my friend suggested we go dance. Which i thought was odd, but whatever. Well, he proposed on the dance floor. I said YES! And then the DJ played Chris de Burgh’s Lady in Red! Which is why my friend wanted me to wear a red dress! It all made sense at the end and I still can’t believe I didn’t see it coming!
How long was the planning process? Did you think it was enough time?
I always wanted to get married in the spring and since he proposed in January we decided to wait till the following April. Total of 15 months. It was enough time, but like always procrastination happens and you wait till the last minute to finish things.
What was the best advice you received when you were planning your wedding?
Don’t worry about the little things. Don’t make to many small projects for personal touches. No one, other than you, is going to notice is the napkins are monogrammed. Or is the chairs have covers or bows on them.
What tips & tricks (“hacks”?) can you share future brides that you yourself have learned during and after your wedding?
It can be cheaper to buy your decorations online than renting them. Just depends on how much time you have for the assembly process. And the dollar store is your best friend.
What were some challenges you faced while planning your wedding & what did you do to address them?
Procrastination is never good. And money will fix everything.
What inspired your wedding décor? Why did you choose the things that you did?
Had an asian themed decor. Just loved paper lanterns and origami cranes. Tied in the center pieces by using bamboo and beta fish(which I found homes for after the wedding). Even my ceremony flowers had an Asian theme. They were origami as well.
What was the wedding budget?
$20,000
Where did you save the most money?
Did our own wedding invites, and buying decor online and assembling it at home.
What was the biggest expense?
Food, totally worth it!
How many guests were invited in your wedding and what was the final guest count?
Invited 140 and had 110. No children at reception.
How did you narrow down your list?
Immediate family first and then friends we talked to on a regular basis for the first round of invites. And then second round was friends we didn’t talk to as much and co-workers.
What songs did you use during the ceremony?
We hired a string trio from one of the local music colleges. Music was mixed up, don’t remember what I walked down too.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
Mayan Riviera, Mexico. At the Excellence Riviera Cancun. For 2 weeks, it was amazing.
What are you most excited about for the future?
More vacations!
Do you have advice for couples still in the planning process?
Don’t worry about the little things. Don’t get caught up in themes and traditions. We had an Asian decor, with Southern BBQ food, no cake, and I had a vintage inspired dress! Everything will look great in the end, as long as its what you want.
What is the overall story for this album?
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” -Dr.Seuss
What inspired the wedding day outfits?
The groom and groomsman had a sleek, simple look. With the only wedding colour(red) showing up in the grooms boutonniere and handkerchief. The bridesmaids had a vintage inspired black dress. And I let them do whatever they wanted with their hair. And whatever shoes they wanted to wear. My dress was a vintage inspired Stella York. I love knee high socks, so I wore rainbow striped knee high socks and a wedge heel converse. That’s right, I wore converse shoes. And I was comfy!
What was your favorite part of the day?
When I walked down the isle and saw my future husband with lack of beard! He had shaved! The night before he had a full beard and wouldn’t tell me if he was going to shave. The sun was shinning and he had an amazing smile.
Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?
- Strings of cranes. Bought red and white cranes on etsy. Then had to string them, add weights and hooks. We
boxed them separately so they wouldn’t tangle. - Custom wedding favour candy bags and candy bar. Brown paper bags from dollar store, stamp from Michaels and fancy scissors. Labels for candy bar, printed and glued to card stock and then to clothes pegs bought all table lines and runners online, lots of ironing! Start early.
- assembled my own center pieces.
- Tall vase & rocks from dollar store
- Tea lights, holder from superstore & candles from Ikea
- bamboo from local nursery
- beta fish from local pet store,picked up week before, each lived in plastic cups till day off. Jugs of Purified water
brought to venue day of
- Invites. Plan card stock bought from Michael’s, stamp and red ink. Lots of printing and stamping.
- Photobooth. Props bought from dollar store and made by hand using foam board. Backdrop made with pcv pipe and comic book vinyl. Vinyl bought from fabric store & velcro from dollor store. Pcv frame put together by husband with design found on pinterest. Signs for photobooth printed and put in fancy frame memorial candle. Tall vase and rocks from dollar store. Floating candle from Michael’s and sign printed and put into small frame
- Signs for bride and groom photos. “I love you, I Know” cut pieces from wood pallet from work. Stencilled on writing. And “Thank you” sign for wedding thank yous. Instead of card. Signs and paint from dollar store.
- Guest scrapbook. Cut blank card stock for guest to write on and had sign printed for them to go to the photobooth for pic to match well wishes.
- wedding card box. Spray painted left over christmas boxes(2) flat black. Glued together, cut hole in middle andlid. Made felt flowers (pattern found on pinterest) glued thick ribbon and felt flowers to box
- ring bearer box. Bought fake book box from Michael’s. Black material from fabric store. Made tiny pillow. Sewed 2 separate length of red ribbon to pillow.
What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?
The weather held out. Had been raining all morning and stopped 40min before the ceremony. It was gorgeous out! The decorator I hired did an amazing job bringing everything together with very little direction. I just told her “here’s all the stuff” and she managed to make our venue look absolutely stunning. The Reception food was fantastic! Everyone couldn’t stop talking about it. I still have people coming to me 6 months later to tell me the baked beans were the best. And the DJ. He did a great job. Knew what songs to play, very good at reading the crowd. Even saw him dancing with the guests at one point. And had many compliments from guest after the wedding.
Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?
Good times had by all!
What part of the ceremonies do you think was the most memorable for you? (& your guests?)
The most memorable part of the ceremony for me was when my future husband called me his “waffle wedded wife”.
Anything else you would like to add ?
Our photographers did an amazing job capturing all the wonderful and intimate moments of the day. They were so nice and easy to work with. And I couldn’t imagine our day being so wonderful without them.
Vendors
Photographer: Will Pursell
Caterer: Smoke and Bones BBQ
Venue: Secret Garden at Woodbridge Ponds
Decorator: Carmelle Belanger
Dj: Alex
Paper Flowers: Tree Town Paper on Etsy
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