Modern Elegance

Elegance is when something looks refined and exhibits high quality. So what does it mean to have the word ‘modern’ added to it? For me, it means not constraining yourself to the definition of elegance. It’s about being open to other stylistics and vibes. And in the end, what you have is a hybrid – which looks just as elegant but a little bit more unique. This is what April & Evan’s wedding is about. A beautiful wedding that boasts of some cute rustic details. Congratulations to our lovely couple!!

What is the overall story for this album?

Evan and I have been together for over 8 years. Our wedding day pictures showcased our connection and love for each other. Blendi, or photographer did an amazing job at capturing every minute of our day. I loved the way she not only showcased not only wedding party, but every guest that attended our wedding. Some of our favorite pictures are the ones of our guest laughing and enjoying their time together.

What inspired the wedding day outfits?

As far as my wedding dress, I knew I wanted a wedding dress that worked well with the overall theme of modern elegance. Going dress shopping, I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted and it only took one store and 5 dresses to find the perfect dress. With the help of the amazing team at Ladies and Gents Bridal Shop, my dress fit like a glove, it was perfect.

For the bridesmaids we wanted to incorporate the main wedding color, lilac. Because the wedding took place during the day, we went with a tea length dress with nude heels. For the reception, the bridesmaids had matching nude sandals.

As far as the attire for the groom and groomsmen, we knew we wanted grey. Grey is elegant yet modern and it matches very well with the lilac bridesmaids dresses.

Was there any Do it Yourself (DIY) projects? If so, can you describe them in detail?

Yes, there were many DIY projects. I, like many brides, scoured Pinterest and Etsy for ideas. I wanted to add personal touches that brought our theme to life. One the things I did myself was the seating chart board. I took a picture frame that I found at a craft store and painted the background black. I then took picture frame mats and spray painted them lilac. I typed up the table assignments and printed them in a cursive style font on card stock. I then put the card stock in each of the lilac frames. I thought the seating chart board turned out great and was much more cost effective than buying a custom made one online.

I also took many store bought items and added ribbon and bows to incorporate colors. I did this for the card box, cake cutter and flower vases. One of the favorite things I made for the wedding was custom bottles of water. I found very affordable waterproof labels that had the damask pattern and were lilac. The labels also had our names and wedding date printed on them. I bought the bottled water and attached the labels to the bottle. They were very easy to make and only cost about 40 dollars for 100 bottles. It was a nice touch for the ceremony and many of the guest took them home as favors.

For the wedding favors, we bought mini champagne bottles and custom ribbon that we attached with a label printed onto card stock. We then used hot glue to attach the ribbon and tag to the bottles. The favors were easy to make and were a hit at the wedding.

What were the highlights from the ceremony & reception?

There were many highlights from the ceremony and reception. My favorite part of the ceremony was walking down the aisle and seeing all of our family and friends there to celebrate the day with us. Oh and finally marrying my best friend was definitely a highlight of the ceremony.

One of the highlights of the reception was when my grandma “cut a rug” (her words) on the dancefloor. Our first dance was also a highlight. It was nerve racking to be watched by 100 people but once the music started, Evan and I started talking and it was like we were all alone. It gave us time to be together and talk without being interrupted.

During the reception, which was inside, it started to rain outside. It was a light rain but we went outside and took pictures under an umbrella. Those are some of my favorite pictures.

I learned things do not always go as planned such as the unity not lighting because of the wind, but those flaws are memories that we will cherish.

Was there a theme for the ceremony and reception?

The theme was again, modern and elegant. The colors were lilac with pops of pink. We also incorporated the black and white damask pattern. I love the look of damask and we were able to incorporate it into the invitations, card box, seating chart board and the table numbers.

What part of the ceremonies do you think was the most memorable for the bride and groom?

The most memorable part for me, the bride would be the money dance. The object of the money dance is to do just that, earn money, but what I didn’t realize is that it would give me one on one time to connect with friends and family. My favorite dance was with my great grandfather, we reminisced about the past, ending in tears, happy tears. That is a memory I won’t forget.

The most memorable part for the groom was the ceremony. (Told by Evan, the groom) “We were traditional and did not see each other until the ceremony. When she walked down the aisle, it was the first time seeing her in her wedding dress, she was beautiful.”

Vendors

Photographer:  sun-dance photography
Caterer:  Sterling Hills Wedgewood
Reception Venue:  Sterling Hills Wedgewood
Cake:  Taste of Cake (Oxnard, CA)
Flowers:  Flowers By Roni (Ventura, CA)
Dress:  Ladies and Gents Bridal (Bakersfield, CA)
Suits:  J David’s (Valencia, CA)