Anna & Mike’s Workplace Romance

by Jen Hart | California Wedding, Real Weddings

So you fancy that sexy colleague but you’re convinced it won’t end well? Think again…as Anna says, it’s worth it to date a co-worker when you’re planning on marrying him! You guessed it, this gorgeous couple met on the job. Now, although they worked in different locations they got the chance to chat on the phone regularly. Anna would call Mike to ask for help with a task and Mike would soon have her in stitches, laughing uncontrollably. They became friends until, two years later, they started dating and lucky for them, co-workers and management were super-supportive, to the extent that their CEO ended up being their officiant!

 The proposal story is a classic: the couple was on holiday in Hawaii when, on the first night of their trip, Mike got down on bended knee to make the move. However, in his attempt to locate the ring in his obviously very complex jacket…he fell hopelessly short. That didn’t deter Mike, he simply removed then entire jacket and offered that to Anna instead. Needless to say, she refused to comply until he’d unearthed the elusive ring. The rest of the trip was spent with them both deliriously happy.

So, living in Santa Barbara, Anna visited a few Bridal outlets before deciding rather to schedule a big dress hunting expedition to LA with her mom and sister. They’d made appointments to visit four boutiques on their first day, with Dreamers and Lovers being third on their list. Anna had a vision in mind, lace, with a low back and a stunning train. In true boho spirit, Anna was un-phased about wearing a train at an outdoorsy ranch wedding and with good cause…her gown ended up fitting in just fine. When they reached their third appointment and she tried on the Amber dress, she knew she’d found the one. Amber ticked all the boxes and on top of that, it just felt so Anna. They quickly cancelled their fourth appointment and the rest is history!

Using their own mixing skills, the couple laid the track over a piano cover that they found on YouTube, resulting in a wedding-worthy and truly romantic number for their first dance

So, it was to be a medium sized, boho-ranch bash with 150 friends and family on the guest list. As they set about planning, they considered which song to use for their first dance, as this was an element of importance to them. Having spent a night at a big electronic music gig, shortly before they began dating, they’d fallen in love whilst dancing to one specific song. They wanted to use it for their first dance but let’s just say that the beats were a little on the intense side. They reached out to the producer, expecting nothing back, what with him being well known and traveling the globe doing gigs and all. To their pleasant surprise he responded by donating a sample of the vocal track. Using their own mixing skills, the couple laid the track over a piano cover that they found on YouTube, resulting in a wedding-worthy and truly romantic number for their first dance. A choreographer friend helped them to come up with the perfect moves to match their song.

When Anna was nine, she’d decided that her centerpieces would be rustic bowls with floating flowers and candles and that’s exactly what she had. This was the only detail that she used that was part of her childhood vision of that perfect day. She’s incredibly grateful to her mom, who designed them, because they turned out exactly how she’d always pictured them.

Cake tasting was one of the couple’s favorite parts of the planning process. The wedding cake was a red velvet naked cake with a cream cheese frosting. Both the cake and the catering for the event were beyond delicious and thoroughly enjoyed by all.

At one point during the day, the photographers took the happy couple and bridal party into a field to do a shoot. Anna and her bridesmaids were all barefoot and they soon discovered the ground in the field was prickly and painful. Mike offered Anna a piggyback ride and it was only a matter of time before every bridesmaid had paired up with a groomsman to receive the same service. One couple even took a tumble; it was a hysterical experience which none of them will ever forget.

Readings were not of the traditional kind. As you know, the couple’s CEO officiated

Readings were not of the traditional kind. As you know, the couple’s CEO officiated…now; he took it upon himself to request a gem of wedding advice from each family member, which he then related at the ceremony. It was both touching and hilarious, such a brilliant idea!

The couple chose to write their own vows and Anna warmly remembers this snippet from the end of Mikes vow to her: “

“I promise to continue to be the person you fell in love with. I will always put you first, and try my best to make you laugh and smile. I will always make you feel safe, secure, and comfortable. In doing this, I hope I can make you feel even half as good as you make me feel. I love you.”

Mike’s favorite was when Anna explained that he had a tendency to make her laugh so hard that she usually became quite self-conscious about it.

The only challenge they encountered in the planning was the fact that they didn’t realize that their day coincided with a popular local fair, for which the streets were closed. As you can imagine that made transport somewhat difficult and also meant that hotel rooms weren’t easy for the guests to find. An outstanding shuttle service and a few strings pulled though and the event were a great success.

 Anna’s advice to other boho-brides is that it’s your day and you can do whatever you want, you don’t have to do something just because it’s tradition. The couple made no grand entrance or exit, as it just didn’t feel authentic to them. Make sure your family and friends know to stay close on the day of the event…they will ground you and keep you centered!

 So what’s next for the couple? They have plans to buy a house soon but otherwise they’re just relishing their time together as a young husband and wife. Little ones are on the cards but likely only in the next five years or so. We wish them many a romantic summer and many a wholesome, homely winter, together with all the love they can possibly bare!

CREDITS

Photographer: California based Kindred Weddings

Anna’s Dress: Dreamers & Lovers Backless Amber Simple Wedding Dress

To see more bride’s wearing the Amber, see Alexis California Wedding and see it in this California coastal setting here

Amy and Nick’s Wedding Story

by Jen Hart | California Wedding, Real Weddings

Now here’s a true Hollywood love story that just goes to show…even after a wild night out on the town, you may wake up with more than just puffy eyes: you may wake up with your future husband’s number in your purse.

While attending graduate school at Indiana University, Amy did a summer internship in San Francisco. Being a Midwest girl, she decided she’d use her weekends to explore the West Coast and so she set off on a few solo trips to Vancouver, San Diego and LA. Amy used Facebook to reconnect with some old acquaintances from Chicago and together they enjoyed a sun-filled day on Venice beach, after which they discovered (to Amy’s dismay) that her rental car had been towed and ticketed. Instead of letting the frustration overcome her, Amy allowed her Facebook friends to take her out for a night on the town at Hollywood’s rock n’ roll bar, Angels and Kings.

There, amongst the huddle of leather, black and denim clad rockers, stood the proverbial sore thumb: there was something strangely irresistible about Nick’s blazer and skinny tie, his charmingly clean cut appearance…call it nerd appeal, Amy was into it. After a (possibly strategic) walk-by, Amy was greeted with a cool “hello”, followed by a welcome chat, an offered drink and, you guessed it, an impromptu make-out session (and if we think these never amount to anything…we’ll have to think again).

The sparks must have been flying because, at the end of her Master’s program, Amy made the move to LA to be with him

Thinking that that was the last she’d see of ‘sexy-nerd-boy’, Amy was pleasantly surprised by the way he pursued her afterward, even though he was aware that she lived all the way in Indiana. He was not to be that easily dissuaded and the pair was soon involved in a long distance relationship. The sparks must have been flying because, at the end of her Master’s program, Amy made the move to LA to be with him. As she puts it, it just felt right.

On a weekend trip to Yosemite National Park, Nick managed to find a deserted meadow hike with gorgeous views of Half Dome and that is where he popped the question. Lack of cell service in the park meant that the new engagement would be their little secret until they emerged from the wilderness the next day.

When it comes to the all important mission of choosing a wedding dress, Amy is of the belief that there are two types of bride…those who chose a dress that they never in a million years would have imagined themselves choosing and those who know from the get-go just exactly what it is they’re looking for. She considers herself to be one of the latter. Amy knew that she wanted to be covered up, while still showing her gorgeous curves. She knows that a woman needn’t show a whole lot of skin in order to look like a million bucks.

After finding Dreamers and Lovers online, she decided to visit the studio in Torrance, where she found two long sleeved dresses which really caught her eye. After chatting with founder and designer, Yanique, Amy realized that she could customize the breathtaking Alice gown to have long sleeves also, so that’s exactly what she did. The end product was a true reflection of Amy’s personality and fashion sense; it was everything she’d hoped for and most definitely what she had pictured herself in in dreams. Amy was delighted and she looked absolutely unforgettable in her boho-chic, Alice gown.

The wedding was to be a small and intimate one, with only the closest of friends and family running the wedding and attending it. The couple’s friend, Scott, officiated; their friend John played the guitar for the aisle music and Amy’s childhood friend, Lindsey, did the reading. Everyone later remarked about how beautifully intimate the ceremony was, plus the couple had a chance to talk to every single person who attended.

Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident.

The reading was an excerpt from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis De Bernieres and it goes: “Love is a temporary madness, it erupts like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make a decision. You have to work out whether your roots have so entwined together that it is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not breathlessness, it is not excitement, and it is not the promulgation of eternal passion. That is just being “in love” which any fool can do. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away, and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. Those that truly love, have roots that grow towards each other underground, and when all the pretty blossom have fallen from their branches, they find that they are one tree and not two.”

Amy and the bridesmaids saw to all the flowers for the event. Her and her friend Lyn actually took a floral design class and became obsessed with using flowers from the downtown LA flower market. They made centerpieces, bouquets, flower crowns, boutonnieres and corsages. It was a rustically elegant, bohemian wildflower business with loads of green, orange pink and white; garden roses, ranunculus, dahlias and chrysanthemums. The outcome was something Amy and Lyn had every right to be proud of!

So much of what was done in preparation was DIY, Amy knows now that you don’t need to fork out millions to arrange the best day of your life. Your friends will be happy if you ask for their help in planning and, as a result, the wedding will turn out even more intimate and full of love-magic than you expected. Amy will now be more than happy to get hands on next time a friend or family member gets hitched.

One of the biggest challenges for Amy was overcoming stress while planning, so many small details and everybody firing questions at you…Amy felt her brain was full and just about ready to explode at times. She says it’s important to remember to relax, breathe and enjoy. She also noted that it’s essential to make both sets of parents feel chilled and content because weddings can be a really stressful time for parents too.

To complement the laid-back vibe, dessert was to be assorted cupcakes instead of cake. They had red velvet, chocolate caramel and strawberry with filling, plus: because of the camping/glamping theme, there was also a s’mores table where guests could roast their marshmallows over a little fire.

As for vows, the couple both wrote their own and kept them as a surprise for the ceremony. What’s really remarkable is that both Amy and Nick ended up mentioning the same incident, which had happened a few months before the wedding. They had arranged a trip to Louisville, Kentucky so that their parents could meet, although Nick had just started a new job and work demanded that he take a separate flight. Nick, of course, overslept and missed his early morning flight. The moral of the story was that Nick desperately needed Amy to keep him in line (as he clearly couldn’t function without her) and Amy vowed never to let him miss another flight.

One thing that the couple did a little differently was that, before the wedding, they were allowed to see each other, take some photos and ease their nerves a little bit. The entire guest list ended up joining them for a drink on the porch before the wedding had even started, with Amy all dressed and already made up. Although some might consider this to be a bit of a wedding faux pas, Amy actually saw this as a highlight on her day and it gave her an opportunity to relax herself, spend time with friends and admire the man who was soon to be her husband

Another highlight for Amy was the fact that the guest lodge that was chosen for the venue allowed everyone complete run of the property, dancing, bar area, games area, lodge and porch. Everyone had the option to wander about the grounds and enjoy the scenery instead of spending all their time at the tables.

When asked what her advice was for future brides, Amy shared another funny story about her car, which broke down on route to the venue the day before the wedding, making her 2 hours late for the rehearsal. Stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, once again Amy decided to make the most of the situation (it was Friday after all). She ended up meeting her fiancé at a nearby restaurant and having beers with two members of the bridal party. They had an absolute blast and it’s an experience Amy will always remember with a smile. It just goes to show, don’t stress…just stay positive and things are bound to work in your favor.

The pair is saving now for a new house or apartment and plan to enjoy a belated honeymoon late in October. They’ll be visiting Atlanta, Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina. Looking at their incredible wedding photos I found myself giggling, I can almost hear the quite jokes they share between them and I’m sure that for this beautiful Dreamers and Lovers couple, there will never be a dull moment or a moment filled with anything but dearest love. Blessings to you both and may your years be rich and joyful.

See more brides wearing alice here and here:

VENDOR CREDITS

Photographer: Michelle Darlene Photography

Hair and Makeup: Emily Barton of Designed Elegance

Dress:  Alice Bohemian Wedding Dress

Matt and Jess’s Love Story

by Jen Hart | California Wedding, Real Weddings

There’s something so refreshing about looking through wedding pics like these of Jess and Matt…being able to see both the bride and groom’s individual styles shining through loud and clear. For a change I can get a sense of where they fit in, even on their wedding day, something that (because of staunch wedding traditions) probably wouldn’t have happened in another generation.

With Matt’s spiffy suspenders and sneakers and Jess in a laid back Dreamers and Lovers gown with tousled hair and a boho flower crown; it’s no stretch to assume the pair to be free-spirited, easy going, open minded lovebirds, intent on sticking with each other and conquering the world, one mountain at a time.

When Jess decided to introduce herself to her new neighbor she found herself taken aback by his handsome smile and his blue eyes, which set her bohemian heart a-racing

The couple met five years ago, when Jessica moved into the apartment right next door to Matt. When Jess decided to introduce herself to her new neighbor she found herself taken aback by his handsome smile and his blue eyes, which set her bohemian heart a-racing. The two shared a joke-filled, neighborly friendship and Matt’s unique sense of humor quickly found it’s way into Jess’s soul. As destiny would have it, it was just a matter of time before both of them became single and found the opportunity to confess their mutual feelings of attraction; it sounds positively chemical!

They’ve been together ever since.

The sweethearts had a son together and were out on a hike with him, admiring a fiery sunset and a breathtaking view. Jess was just in the process of a son and mum selfie when Matt called out to her and she turned around to find him on one knee (looking ever so hopeful). Well, it stands to reason, she must have answered: Yes!

The plan was to have a relatively small wedding, with 130 guests. Jess’s only prerequisite, her dream, was to have sparkly lights. Her vision was of a laid back, summer wedding,under the stars, outside with glittering fairly lights for that extra touch of magic. Her vision was realized and according to Jess, those glittering lights made all the difference.

Jessica knew exactly what she wanted in a wedding dress. It was to be simple, elegant and classic but with a twist of boho-sexiness. Not a difficult ask when you’re shopping at Dreamers and Lovers, which luckily she was. D&L was one of the only two bridal boutiques she visited, feeling slightly pressured into trying on multiple dresses ‘just to be sure.’ However, she knew she’d found the one the moment she tried on Alexandria. Beautiful, laid back Boho-chic, affordable and utterly comfortable.

As with many of our bohemian brides, the greatest challenge for Jess was coming to the realization that she needn’t please everyone. When her concerns about ensuring that every guest was 100% entertained began to interfere with the big picture, Jess decided to take a step back and regroup; it was a huge weight lifted off her shoulders.

It was a dream come true, she’d be marrying the man of her wildest dreams, a better man than she ever could have imagined. She’d managed to find her fantasy dress with negligible fuss. She looked exquisite and it was time to make this a wedding to remember!

Her chosen reading for the ceremony was ‘Love’ by Roy Croft, a poem which Jess feels truly expresses her feelings for her husband and which speaks to her on many levels. Their vows were self-written, Jess ended her’s by saying “I love you Papasan”. Their secret nicknames for each other are Papasan and Mamasan…well, not so secret anymore! It made him laugh and for Jess, there’s nothing, which makes her happier than Matt’s smile.

As for the other details, the wedding cake was scrumptious and a serious hit, a white cake with buttercream and assorted berries; there was a little surprise for everyone, the top two layers were vegan coconut cake.

One of Jessica’s favorite details was the centerpiece on the guest tables; the flowers were absolutely stunning, peach/pink roses, big baby’s breath, yellow poms, white china chrysanthemums and snapdragons.

Jess’s advice to all the laid back brides-to-be out there is this: Don’t stress about the details, nothing will ever go as planned. You won’t look back and remember the little things, which weren’t perfect: you’ll remember the laughter, fun and love shared by you and your dear ones that day. Enjoy every second of it because it goes by far too fast!

What’s on the cards for Matt and Jess? A few more babies hopefully. The couple is looking to expand their troop in the near future and we wish them all the best in their endeavor. This shouldn’t be too hard an ask, the fun is in the trying… Many blessings Matt and Jess, we’re honored to know you and blessed to have been a part of your story.

And to all those ladies who haven’t got any idea where Mr. Right might me hiding…be sure to check next door!

And to all those ladies who haven’t got any idea where Mr. Right might me hiding…be sure to check next door!