Iceland poppies and tulips in containers of wheat grass. A perfect Texas Hill Country night. Dozens of brightly colored paper lanterns. Bridesmaids in orange. Bad dance moves. And that bicycle getaway. Then, all those adorable photos that followed, including a spread in the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of The Knot (Texas edition). That was my Austin wedding, April 4, 2009.
Every girl dreams about her wedding day, but few imagine the day inked in a major bridal magazine six months later. That’s what happened yesterday when I got the mail. Three shiny new copies of The Knot, featuring yours truly. A few months into newlywedhood, we heard from an editor at The Knot that we had been chosen for a “Real Wedding” spread in the upcoming issue, thanks to a surprise submission by our crafty photographer, Shannon Cunningham.
Dish about my wedding? Um, yes please.
Retro tones of orange, yellow and green set the tone for our springtime Hamilton Twelve wedding. Little did I know an orange would become a hot little hue for Fall brides.
TIP: Don’t be afraid to go for a less conventional color palette – there’s no rule that says you must have a traditional two-tone color combo. For inspiration, head to the paint swatch section of a hardware store. Walk out with a handful of color shades that speak to you. Work with your wedding coordinator to assemble a palette that is visually interesting and works together.
TIP: When it comes to decor, if you can’t find it, make it. It’s your wedding day. Anything is possible. Search high and low for your visual elements with your coordinator, but don’t give up if you can’t make that perfect shade of orange bridesmaid dress materialize (though ours were JCrew). Our cake topper came from a boutique in France (and yes, the fact that it stood a teensy 2.5 inches tall got lost in translation). The table runners were handmade by mom & my grandmother.
A horizontal iron screen from Mancino Iron Works (adorned by Bouquets of Austin) served as an altar piece in an otherwise wide open space during our ceremony. After, it doubled as the stage-setter for the reception, and helped shift the focal point from the pool in the background to our little Sweetheart Table (table for two) at the head of the outdoor reception space. And yes, there were a few attempts by members of the bridal party to jump in the pool. A great coordinator can divert splashes like that at your reception (ours did!).
TIP: To Sweetheart or not? Many brides debate this set-up, but consider this. Enjoy that menu you labored over, and at the same time, take a sweet mental picture of your wedding reception, sans distractions. It’s a surreal scene, one serene moment during the reception reserved for just you and your brand new hubby. It’s something every couple to experience.
Sometimes themes come together quite by accident. When cute accidents like patterned table runners and round paper lanterns happen, embrace them! Our theme started unknowingly with a save the date card that featured the bride & groom-to-be on cruiser bikes (pictured below). Bicycle wheels became a pattern (as circles) on wedding day, and poppies (a naturally round-ish flower) helped that thematic element play out. Pretty poppies embellished our invitations as well, seen here.
TIP: Look for a unifying thread in things that interest you, and incorporate them into your overall look (hobbies, fave films, objects in pop culture, etc.).
Work with your coordinator to negotiate any special accommodations you’ve dreamed up for your wedding venue. I imagined a string-lit dance floor under the stars, and after I produced some inspiration photos for direction, Hamilton Twelve made it happen. Also, a professional wedding planner is a must: my trusty day-of coordinator managed our timeline so we could enjoy the party minus logistics.
Jeremy had very few wedding requests besides things pertaining to the menu, bar and music…but he did make mention once that it would be funny to have a banner at the wedding that said: “Germ & Steph: The Wedding” (like in the movie “Elizabethtown”). A cousin made it happen and surprised us with the sign.
TIP: Every bride should look for little things they can do to incorporate their guy’s ideas, no matter how silly they may seem at the time. Weddings should be a reflection of the couple, and the planning should be fun! Also, brides on bikes: remove your petticoat & change to flip flops before making the big exit to your two-wheeled chariot. It’s a good idea to stage a car just out of sight of guests too.
Best tip I put to practice: I heard from too many friends that the ceremony is a blur in hindsight, and it’s over before you know it. So when the doors opened, my dad & I stood at the top of the stairs for a moment before beginning our walk down the aisle. It was a sweet minute that allowed us to take it all in – I’ll treasure that forever.
What I wished I’d known: We planned family photos during cocktail hour, and thus there were no appetizers or cocktail-hour’ing for us. If your timeline is tight, ask your planner to hold back a plate of apps, or maybe even delay dinner service for 5-10 minutes so you can attend.
One more vendor shoutout: The wheel atop Jeremy’s cake actually spun. Matty Cakes = genius.
Stephanie Ridge -BZ events
Photo credits: Shannon Cunningham Photography + Sherry Hammonds Photography
by BZ events
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