Michelle & Eric

Hitting Polka Dot Bride all the way from California today! Michelle and Eric had a wedding that I want to go to. It’s full of special touches, little details that Michelle crafted herself But that’s not why I want to go! Michelle and Eric’s wedding was so full of love, so full of laughter you can’t help but giggle as you look through their photographs. It just strikes me in my heart every time I see a shot of them smiling- this is how it should be. This is how it how love looks.

The gorgeous photos today are captured by Onelove Photography. Sara (who is getting married herself very soon!) has captured today’s wedding with everything one could hope for- there’s lots of gorgeous details but many, many happy untouched moments as well. (Plus she submitted via Two Bright Lights which we LOVE!)

Michelle and Eric filled their wedding day with DIY touches- including the bouquets!. Michelle says “Our main goal was to have most of the things at the wedding by hand and with love and not from some machine mass producing stuff. We were both told to take a minute during the day and enjoy what was going on around us. Because we were organized and had friends stepping up to help, we were able to take the whole day in, not just a minute.”

Michelle and Eric met before the ceremony underneath the redwoods on the property.

Michelle and Eric married at Freeman Winery where Eric is an associate winemaker. Michelle says “There have only been two weddings at the winery, ours and a previous employee’s.  It is secluded, in the country, quiet, and rustic. We made sure to use all of the wonderful spaces there including the barn (bridal staging area), the new house that the owners just built (groom staging area), the cave entry (for the ceremony), the cave (apps and champagne), the lush lawn (dinner) and the parking lot (dancing). Our first peek at each other happened in one of the two redwood stands surrounding the property.”

Michelle says “My friend made the feather fascinators for the bridal party. I made the escort cards and a friend pinned them on the board. I also made the bunting that hung above the champagne bar that read “Just Married”. These, of course, were just some of the DIY touches Michelle put into the day. She also made the neckties, hand assembled all of the stationery, made the favors, the photobooth, the centrepieces, the bunting, the tablecloths, the ceremony programs and the photobooth props!

Michelle says the day was filled with things special to her and Eric ” Family, friends, crafts, wine and food. I wish I could do it every weekend”

Guests dined under the open sky on a feast catered by Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar. Each table centrepiece was different and made by the couple- the terrariums were even handmade by a friend who is skilled at stained glass work. Michelle says “A lot of brides who I had talked to about DIY said that it was disappointing because the guests didn’t appreciate it. But I really think our guests noticed. And the look on their face when they heard that this guest put together this and that one did that was priceless.”

A homemade wedding cake was made from doughnuts, while Michelle’s father drilled holes into dowel and created “props” for the couple’s makeshift photo booth.

The wedding cake was made by Mariposa Kitchen. Michelle says “Our first dance was to “Knock Me a Kiss” by Louis Jordan. We wanted something fun and flirty. It was a song we had danced to and quoted many times in our living room.”

A big thankyou and congratulations to Michelle and Eric for allowing us to share their wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Thankyou also to Sara of Onelove Photography for submitting today’s wedding to us!

Photos by Onelove Photography

Today’s session is so full of beautiful colour and life! All the way from North Carolina, it’s the engagement session of Janelle and Bryan- two school teachers! Bryan proposed to Janelle with a treasure hunt that led to her two favourite things- skittles and diet Sundrop…and an engagement ring!

Naturally, the couple payed homage to their lifestyle by setting up school desks at the Carrigan Farm apple orchards. There was also a nod to the proposal!

Photos today are by Sassyfras Studios, have a lovely weekend!

Photos by Sassyfras Studios.

Do you know, I don’t remember really ever seeing many orange groves around where I grew up, or even where I live now. So when I see them featured in California or Florida weddings I do always get a little excited. Tab of Tab McCausland Photography submitted this gorgeous orange grove day after shoot from the wedding of Tina and James (in Auburndale, Florida) and the oranges won my heart (right after the gorgeous photos of course!).

Photos by Tab McCausland Photography

Jessica and Hugo

We’re traveling to the other side of the world today, California to be exact. To share the wedding of Jessica and Hugo with you! Jessica and Hugo met and fell in love at Stanford University, so that is where they headed back to hold their wedding! It’s intimate, heartfelt and completely personal. On this cold winter’s day, today’s wedding will warm the cockles of your heart.

Photos today are by Alfred Salmon Photography.

The couple married at the Stanford University Memorial Chapel. Jessica says “We met at Stanford as graduate students, so it was special to be able to hold our ceremony at the enormous historic church on campus”. Jessica wore a gown from David’s Bridal while Hugo wore a grey suit from Men’s Wearhouse.

Jessica and Hugo had many of their family and friends pitch in to help them celebrate their wedding. Jessica says “My sister made my bouquet as well as hers and my sister-in-law’s.  She and my mom went to a local grocery store the day before the wedding and bought a few flowers (I think they spent $30 total).  Granted, my sister has an artistic eye, but she did a wonderful job and the bouquets were a nice touch.”

For the wedding portraits, the photographers and newlyweds headed back to the dorms – decorated with paper lanterns. The space held a special memory for the couple as it was where Jess used to live and where the couple shared their first kiss.

Jessica says “We had our reception on campus at the graduate center. It was a partially catered the lunch with a few lasagnas from an on-campus caterer, and ordered a large (but beautiful!) sheet cake from a local bakery (La Baguette).  We reserved an on-campus multi-purpose room for the reception that came with tables and chairs (and a sound system).  We didn’t do any decorating (no flowers!), and had our friends set up the room the morning of the wedding.  The remainder of the lunch was a potluck affair, which was phenomenal since our friends represent many regions of the world.”

“Rather than registering for wedding gifts, we asked our friends and family to pitch in on the big day (or donate charitably to the earthquake relief in Chile, since Hugo is Chilean) – and many complied.  We would not have had such a beautiful and successful day without the help of our friends and family!”

Congratulations Jessica and Hugo on your marriage! Thank you for sharing your wedding with us today! Thank you also to Alfred Salmon Photography for sharing today’s photographs!

Photos by Alfred Salmon Photography.