I love this vintage California wedding with rustic, DIY details and some beautiful shades of purple! Once study buddies, this sweet couple fell in love over Physics homework, and Josh Newton Photography perfectly captured that same “spark” and chemistry on their big day. The stunning bride, Elri, is here to share her planning insight with us:
What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?
Well, my grandmother from South Africa came to visit about 6 months before our wedding so that she could spend some time with us and of course help with some of the wedding planning. Since we were on a bit of a budget, many of the decorative items needed to be handmade, and I was very lucky to be able to delegate some of those tasks to my creative grandmother, since my mom and I were both working and my sister/MOH lived far away. On the day of, our wedding venue coordinators at Twin Oaks House and Gardens did a fabulous job of putting everything together like we discussed and making sure that the day’s events happened without a hitch.
What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?
I knew I needed someone who not only shared my vision for the wedding, but also someone I could trust to help create that vision. Of course, having someone there to help you stay on budget and on track helps too – it can get quite overwhelming to see all the options out there, and who doesn’t want the best of the best for their wedding?
What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?
I started perusing some of the wedding blogs really soon after we got engaged and was immediately drawn to the vintage theme. I wanted to incorporate vintage ideas without overdoing it, and also wanted to make sure I put some unique items into our day. Because I am from South Africa and my grandmother was visiting, I asked her to bring along some guinea fowl feathers and porcupine quills to include in the menu design and boutonnieres.
What was your favorite thing about your wedding?
At the risk of sounding cliche…everything! I really did love how all the little details of the wedding came together – feathers and quills in the menus and boutonnieres, the succulents we gave out as favors, and the flower arrangements fit so well with the touches of lace and purple accents!. If I had to pick, though, my dress and handmade veil will probably always be my favorite!
What is your best piece of advice for other brides?
Pick a theme if you like, but don’t be afraid to be flexible down the road. Your original plan may not work like you thought, but if you step into the process with the goal of enjoying it instead of needing everything to look perfect, you will be so much less stressed!
I love all of the DIY details from the bride’s grandmother. She flew all the way from South Africa to help plan and incorporate the bride’s heritage throughout her numerous decorative projects. My favorite touch has to be the guinea fowl feathers and porcupine quills (indigenous to South Africa) that were sprinkled throughout the handmade boutonnieres and menus. Grandmas are the best! Are you planning to incorporate details your culture, hometown or heritage into your plans? I’d love to hear in the comments below!
XOXO,
Carlee
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