Two things about this incredible butterfly installation that Kate Webber captured at A + J’s wedding: 1) The design by Nicole of Sillapere Inc contained eight thousand paper butterflies for guests to dine under, and 2) It was a *complete* surprise. Amy trusted Nicole + planner Shannon Leahy Events with their vision, so she requested the entire reception be a surprise, including the tables, dishes, flowers, dance floor, and yep, the butterflies! Pretty much the best way to walk into your own reception ever, if you ask us.
Amy says, Our wedding was held at my family’s ranch where I was born and raised. It was an absolutely magical childhood… I was an only child with an avid imagination and had all sorts of fairy friends down in the creek, was best friends with all the trees and wild animals and had long conversations with them, and held tea parties with butterflies and birds in the garden. I wanted to recreate the magic of the ranch of my childhood for everyone at the wedding, creating a day full of bright colors, imagination, play, and innocence.
During their ceremony, Amy and Jace planted an oak tree under the chuppah to grow on the property. Their fathers helped by pouring dirt from the ranch and dirt from Texas (where J’s from), then their moms gave the tree its first drink of water.
Their biggest must for the wedding was that it as eco-friendly as possible. The flowers came from their own property and locally, the bridesmaids dresses were rented, and Amy got her own dress, which was made out of antique lace tablecloths (a fun little nod to their background in the family food biz!) on Etsy. They even donated those butterflies to some fave charities to reuse as art pieces after the wedding!
Our biggest hurdle was definitely transforming my family’s ranch into a venue for 350 people! We had to literally create a flat field from a hill and do so much landscaping. It ended up being so meaningful and totally worth it because my parents were married at the ranch, I was born at the ranch and now Jace and I are building our home on the land as well.
Aren’t these crocheted stones such creative escort carts/keepsakes?
K, had to show more of those butterflies!
There was no alcohol at our wedding to respect both of our families’ beliefs, so we had a mid-day wedding on the summer solstice with bright summer flowers, face painting, a tent filled with hand painted butterflies, a fairy walk scavenger hunt through the creek, hula hooping, a human nest, boats on the pond, and fun crafts and activities for everyone. We even crochet-bombed Jace’s motorcycle and had it as one of the main decorations.
Seriously blown away right now, aren’t you? Thanks to Kate Webber, and Amy and Jace for sharing their story!
Photographer: Kate Webber Weddings / Videographer: Reel Eyes Media / Venue: Private Residence in Northern California / Planning & Design: Shannon Leahy Events / Design, Floral, & Butterfly Installation: Sillapere Inc / Hair & Makeup: Katie Nash Beauty / Cakes: Family friend Francois & Branching Out Cakes / Catering: Componere Fine Catering / Musicians & Face Painters: Entire Productions / Crochet: Ashley V. Black / Human Nest: Jayson Fann / Dance Floor Art: Kathy Wen, Represented by Creativity Explored / Furnishings: Found Rentals, Encore Events Rentals, Archive Rentals / Structures & Furnishings: Bright Event Rentals / Linen: La Tavola / Bride’s Dress: Etsy / Dress Detailing: The Wedding Detailor / Jewelry: Amy Moss / Bridesmaid Dresses: Union Station / Flower Girls & Ring Bearers: Etsy / Suits: J. Crew / Bowties: Knotty Co / Tent: Zephyr Tents
