Real Weddings « 100 Layer Cake

27 May

California mountain elopement

categories Real Weddings, Wedding Wardrobe

Gia Canali sent over this stunning elopement this week and because the couple is moving to Northern Canada to go goldmining this week, which means they won’t have Internet, so we wanted to get it up right away.

Jillian and Dax got married on April 10, 2010 at a bend along the Kern River, near Kernville, California. Their closest friends came to the wedding, and everybody pitched in to pull it off! In Gia’s words, this wedding “is heartening proof that couples can wed last minute and still have a (small scale!) beautiful, totally romantic and deeply meaningful tying-of-the-knot.” Well said!

Jillian made her own dress, including the pattern for it. She deconstructed a vintage dress to create a pattern for the bodice (the green part); sewed that, and then crocheted doilies madly for three weeks straight. She used over two miles of crochet yarn. Apparently they were still working on the dress the morning of the wedding (!) and Jillian had to be sewn into it, Project Runway style.

She found her heels at David’s Bridal and had them dyed, then used a pair of vintage earrings that belonged to a friend (via the friend’s grandmother) as shoe clips. Such a clever way to sass up your outfit and make it your own!

Jillian made her own bouquet with fresh pink hydrangeas, Stars of Bethlehem, and soft flowing greenery from the LA Flower Mart.

You two (three!) are so adorable! Thanks for sharing your wedding with us and we wish you all the best on your journey to Canada.

photos by: Gia Canali
cake toppers: Goose Grease Undone

72 comments

25 May

Real wedding: Ashley + Derek

categories Real Weddings

A pretty San Diego wedding for you all this week… with anemones. And everyone likes anemones.

Classic and pretty. Thanks so much for sharing!

Photography: Stephanie Williams Photography

Invites: Asa of Inky Livie

Calligraphy: Calligraphy Katrina

Coordinators: Amorology Weddings

Church: Mary, Star of the Sea

Reception: The Darlington House

Dress: Anne Barge

Cake: Sweet Cheeks Bakery

Florist: KLF Floral

Guitarist: Joe Armato

Caterer: Tapenade

Band: The Blue Breeze Band

25 comments

20 May

Real wedding: Joel + Morgan

categories Neat Venues, Real Weddings

Cameron Ingalls sent us this super cute, dual-location wedding he shot a few months ago. The first part, the actual ceremony, took place in Pismo Beach on a amazing cliff above the ocean and fog. The second part, the fun part, was a big party for the couple’s friends back home in Oklahoma City. We have a peek of both to show you guys. Both venues are pretty rad.

But let’s start with the way that Joel proposed:

He turned a vintage book into a hiding place for the ring (with the help of his friend Jerrod Smith). And he wrote her a song, that he recorded and played for her while she read the lyrics in little booklet he made with a typewriter and yarn. Then when she opened the book and saw the box and figured out what was going on, Joel got down on one knee and proposed.

Cana Video shot a little engagement video (with the song included) of the two of them that you can see here.

Morgan didn’t want the focus of their ceremony to be totally on her, so she and Joel chose to see each other before the wedding and drive to the park together.

Their California reception was super low key (because the big party was coming up in three weeks is Oklahoma). They asked a friend whose home was down the street from the park if they could have their reception at his house. Because Joel grew up in Brazil and they were going there for their honeymoon too, they had his mom and a few friends cook up a traditional Brazilian dinner. It was mellow and very low budget, but they got to spend a lot of time talking to their nearest and dearest and had the best time.

Then after the honeymoon they threw a big dance party feast for their friends and family as a thank you for being part of their lives. How amazing is the building?

For catering, they kept everything local: food, cupcakes + cookies, beer, coffee bar and music. Their photog, Cameron, played a slideshow of their actual wedding day throughout the night so guests at the party were able to enjoy the wedding ceremony too. Plus they showed the wedding video Cana Video had made, which their guests really loved.

Congrats Morgan and Joel! We so appreciate your take on an intimate ceremony, followed by a big fun party.

San Luis Obispo vendors

photography – Cameron Ingalls
videography – Cana Video
flowers – April Flowers
invitations – 805 collective
make up – kimi holland
hair stylist – jenna frank
dress – Jcrew
cardigan – Jcrew
morgan’s shoes – shoe gypsy
joel’s shoes – ben sherman
joel’s tie: original penguin
suite – Banana Republic

Oklahoma City Vendors

venue – Oklahoma City Farmers Market
catering – Seasons Catering
specialty coffee bar – cafe evoke
beer – Coop Ale Works
cupcakes & cookies – Cuppies & Joe
dj – dj c.c. lark

45 comments

18 May

Real wedding: Kylee + Austin

categories Real Weddings

Chickens! Pitch forks! Boots! And a super sweet, simple, backyard wedding full of lots of love and a bunch of handmade projects.

Kylee and Austin were married at their neighbor’s 119 year old house and had the reception in Kylee’s parents’ backyard (complete with chicken coop and barn). It was and probably will be the biggest backyard BBQ her parents have ever or will ever throw.

Kylee took on pretty much every DIY project possible and it shows in their super personal, extra intimate party. Recycled wine bottles for vases, handmade cake toppers, invites, garter, bouts, corsages, programs, favor bags, etc etc etc. She gets gold stars for doing her whole wedding herself, and loving the entire process.

And there was a bouncy house, which is pretty much the most fun thing ever. And strangely enough, the second bouncy house wedding we’ve shown here.

Thanks so much for sharing your pretty day with us, Kylee!

Photography: Anjuli Paschall of Photorange Photography

Dress: Casablanca 1816

And here’s a great idea… they put an ad on craigslist to find their videographer. He was a local college student studying film and worked out perfectly.

37 comments

6 May

Real wedding: Chantelle + Reid

categories Neat Venues, Real Weddings

We have another super sweet Aussie wedding this week. This one took place at a gorgeous French guesthouse in the hinterland of Dalwood New South Wales. (Hinterland is such a good word. We should all try to use it a little more.) And as Chantelle said, the venue felt like a castle in the middle of nowhere: it felt special. What a lovely image.

They wanted their wedding to have a relaxed feel, more like a big family dinner. And they ended up with a tiny celebration with just their immediate family of 12. The dinner scene in Chocolat inspired the decor.

Chantelle spent her free time leading up to the wedding creating little things for the day. Things like travel packs for the guests, which included directions, beautiful French chocolate and a cd with French music for them to play leading into the location, all wrapped in brown paper & twine; sewn linen bags which enclosed the story of how we met; a blue handkerchief and a disposable Lomo camera for each couple; paper confetti, and jam which I made and placed on the table. The party had it on their croissants at breakfast the morning after.