I'll Never Desert You: Wedding Day Details

Details post! Details post! Oh how I love wedding day details posts here on Weddingbee. I hope you guys enjoy mine as much as I have enjoyed others! Like other bloggers before me (namely Mrs. Turtle and Mrs. Perfume) I was largely inspired by Sophia Coppola's film Marie Antoinette. I love all things Marie Antoinette and 18th century France -- but something a little more relaxed and without the gilded gold details. I had Versailles dreams and a Georgia backyard wedding budget. Yikes! But somehow, with some patience, planning, and DIY savvy, I think we managed to pull off my vision!

The "LOVE" sign was placed on our unused sweetheart table. Making similar letters with scrapbook paper is super easy and inexpensive! I even made a tutorial for it last year. Now these cute letters grace the top of our bookshelf and they always bring a smile to my face when I see them.

The first taste of our wedding day style came from our ceremony site. We rented a fabulous glass chandelier from a local antique store in order to give our countryside wedding a little refined flair. It was an amazing detail and I love the way it looked on our big day!

The guest tables were arranged with an assortment of milk glass vases and flowers in our wedding colors (soft pastels: pink, cream, orange, and blue). For some reason, every table seemed to have one vase with nothing in it, but I have no idea how or why this happened. I made the table numbers in Adobe Illustrator using the same wreath design seen on our silhouettes from our save-the-dates.

All of the milk glass, tarnished silver vessels, mirrored vanity trays, and silver platters were collected throughout the year before our wedding. Mr. C and I gathered them from a variety of locations, but mostly from thrift stores, antique shops, and flea markets. I wrote about my quest for milk glass early in my blogging days last year. It's one of the things I miss most about wedding planning, as we spent many a Saturday scouring antique shops and thrift stores for items to add to our wedding decor. I still have boxes and boxes of milk glass I would like to sell, so if you are in the Atlanta area and interested in buying it from me (no way am I packing this stuff up and shipping it), shoot me a message!

Our sweetheart table that was barely used for the entire night!

For our seating chart, we bought some thin plywood from the hardware store and had them cut it down to this size. We then painted it with two layers of chalk board paint. I had bridesmaid SK draw it out with chalk pens from the craft store the night before the wedding (talk about last minute!) She's an artist, so I gave her a rough sketch of what I wanted and in a few minutes she had this whipped up! There are lots of other ideas I would liked to have tried for seating, but since we were seated outside (with limited tables) it was hard to think of something we could have easily displayed for our guests. 

Here is our photo guest book table. Including a picture of the instructions I created for it. 

Our dessert table with macarons and our wedding cake. The cake was later moved outside for the cake cutting. 

I found our cake topper at a local thrift shop. I thought it was perfect for our theme! 

French macarons! Glorious macarons! Having macarons at our wedding was a big deal for me. You can read about my obsession with macarons here. We also had some prepackaged with little thank you tags (hand stamped by me) that were passed out as wedding favors at the end of the night. I collected the silver trays and domed cake stands from thrift stores and antique shops. 

All of our paper goods were designed by me. I would have loved to do something more complex or use pocket folds, but honestly we were already over-budget everywhere else so I kept the stationary to a minimum. Our save-the-dates were printed by Moo and I loved the quality, but they were a bit pricey. We used Catprint for the invitation suite and thank you cards. 

I also designed our fan programs (inspired by the amazing fan programs by Mrs. Bunting) and had them printed at a local print shop. 

I also hand-stamped these muslin bags and filled them with dried lavender. One was placed on each seat during the ceremony so that it could be tossed as Mr. C and I made our way back down the aisle during the recessional. 

What were your favorite details from you wedding day?

I'll Never Desert You: The Accessories

Oh how I love wedding day details posts! I hope you enjoy mine as much as I've enjoyed other bee bloggers' posts! I definitely took the minimalist approach to my wedding day accessories. I knew that I was going to have a "statement" gown, especially with the blue sash, so I wanted all of my other details to remain subdued to allow the dress to take center stage.

I also never took too much thought about the "somethings" (i.e. something old, something new) as part of my wedding day accessories. But I think I inadvertently managed to hit all of them except "something borrowed" -- oh well!

All photographs are by Christopher Helm Photography. 

Perhaps my favorite wedding day accessory was my beautiful bouquet created by Gardenia Floral Design. It was packed with pink roses, giant peach-colored garden roses, and pops of blue delphinium. The colors were inspired by the gowns and sets of the Sophia Coppola film Marie Antoinette. The stems were wrapped in lace from my mother's wedding dress and secured with a blue ribbon which I bought to match my blue sash. The brooch, while I wish was a cherished family heirloom, was actually purchased at Michael's craft store! 

Another shot of the bouquet. It turned out more beautiful than I ever imagined! We were originally going to DIY our flowers and I'm so glad we didn't, even if it did end up costing us more in the end. 

The signature blue sash was handmade by my own mother. I bought the fabric at my local JoAnne's Fabric store and mailed it to her in Illinois. A week later she mailed the completed sash back to me. It was absolutely perfect! Unfortunately my bridesmaids had to steam out some wrinkles at the venue. 

And what would an accessories post be without the lady of the hour: my ivory silk chiffon Jim Hjelm gown. I wrote an entire post about my dress which you can read here. I am still so in love with this dress! I need another wedding just so I can wear it all over again. 

I wore VIKTOR & ROLF's Flower Bomb as my wedding day signature scent. I carried a vintage lace handkerchief with me (wrapped around my bouquet) to catch any emotional ceremony tears. I wore an art deco inspired bracelet I purchased on sale from Macy's. My ivory lace garter with blue ribbon and crystal was purchased from Etsy seller JLWeddings. 

I had no desire to wear heels on my wedding day, especially since our entire ceremony and reception were being held outdoors, mostly in a field. I saw a wedding blog post with a woman wearing these shoes (in brown) on her wedding day and I ended up finding them in gray on Amazon for $55! You can read more about my reluctant hunt for wedding day shoes here. 

I made my hair accessory two days before the wedding and burned myself with a glue gun in the process. I bought an almost identical accessory from Etsy seller TopWedding, but somehow in the weeks leading to the wedding it went missing. I'm convinced that either Mr. C or I accidentally threw it away, as it was inside a bag and went missing soon after an apartment clean-up. Since the Etsy seller is located in Hong Kong, there was no way I could get another one in time for the wedding. I was thankfully able to order similar feathers from a shop in the U.S. so I had them priority mailed to me and I completed the replica hair accessory just in time! The internet to the rescue! Incidentally, I now have a lot of leftover feathers. 

Here's a good shot of two accessories at work: my bracelet and the beautiful pearl necklace from Tiffany & Co. that Mr. C gifted me that same afternoon! Originally I did not plan on wearing a necklace, but his choice was the perfect complement to my wedding day look. I still can't believe he picked it out on his own. 

And finally, to top it all off, an ivory lace parasol. I found this at an antique store on one of the many weekends we spent collecting milk glass. It's not actually an antique, but at $25 I couldn't help but buy it for a few photos after the ceremony. It seemed decidedly Marie Antoinette to me and I think the photos with it turned out great.

What was your favorite wedding day accessory? 

I'll Never Desert You: Getting Down & Getting Out

Right after getting engaged, I asked my brother if he would be the DJ for our wedding. He was thrilled to help out and immediately started investing in a new sound system and lights in order to meet the demands of DJing for a large crowd. We worked out a killer playlist in the weeks before the wedding. All of his hard work was well worth it -- the dance party wouldn't stop! He kept the party going until we were practically pushed out by our venue. It was a great time, and my brother being somewhat anti-social, really enjoyed being out of reach of talkative family members. This was his grand wedding gift, and it saved us a lot of money in the process! 

When I envisioned our wedding reception, I saw all of my friends having a blast. I saw glow sticks, crazy sunglasses. I saw my dad and stepmother dancing. I saw laughing. And guess what? It really happened. It came together perfectly. It truly was an AWESOME time. The only problem? It went by in a flash. Before we knew it, the night was over.

All photographs are by Christopher Helm Photography. 

One of my favorite pictures from the night - with a bunch of my oldest, dearest friends! 

Daft Punk's most recent album Random Access Memories had just been released, so you know we were blasting some Daft Punk! We also played a lot of Phoenix, Empire of the Sun, and Two Door Cinema Club. I can't even remember what else we played, but everyone seemed really happy. Even now, I always think of our wedding when I hear Daft Punk's summer hit, "Get Lucky." 

If this song doesn't make you want to dance, I don't know what will!

The dance floor was so enticing that we even got my 87-year-old grandmother showing off her moves! She's absolutely my hero. She even does Zumba!

My stepbrothers (seen above) did a great job of keeping everyone moving on the dance floor. Here they are with my stepsister, bridesmaid J, and my Matron of Honor K.

The glow sticks and sunglasses were a big hit! I would definitely recommend getting some for your reception if you think it would fit the vibe and feel of your wedding!

Mr. C with one of his dear family friends.

As the night progressed, shoes came off. People were flushed with intoxication and bad dance moves. I remember being overwhelmed with joy. I couldn't stop smiling. I wanted to stop time, to keep dancing all night. I felt like a lantern emitting the warm glow of love and friendship that I had felt all night long. Mr. C and I danced and danced. Even though I wore flats, I eventually tossed them to the side and felt the cool, gritty stones of our makeshift dance floor beneath my feet. 

Suddenly it was past 11 o'clock and it was time to start wrapping up the party. Our magical night was coming to a close. The catering and venue staff were nervously buzzing around trying to shut down the bar and insisting that my brother play our final song. Our final song was one that totally characterizes Mr. C and I and our group of friends: Journey's classic "Don't Stop Believing." Cliche, I realize, but absolutely perfect. 

We all joined arms and swayed to the song. Everyone knew the words. It was perfection. I could not have asked for a better ending to our amazing night. 

There also might have been some epic air guitar playing.

After the song was over, it was time to get organized for our grand departure. But something was missing. 

Guys, I did something stupid. It's my biggest wedding day regret. I left the extra long sparklers I bought in the trunk of my car. Sadly my car was parked 30 minutes away in downtown Athens outside the hotel Mr. C and I would be staying at that night. It would have been possible to send someone over to grab them, but at the time we weren't sure where they could be. I feel so sorry for my family members and catering staff who spent ages looking through our boxes of decor at the venue in search of the sparklers. Luckily, we had a last minute improvisation -- glow sticks! Thank goodness for the glow sticks! Sure, they aren't the amazing magical images I always imagined, but they worked. And you might even say they are were a little more "us" than the sparklers would have been. At least that's what I keep telling myself.

I also did something else stupid. Right as the coordinators were lining our guests up outside, a member of the catering staff scurried up to me with a giant slice of Linda's Fudge Cake (as described in my previous post). It drifted towards me as if in a dream. Cake, glorious chocolate cake. "You've hardly touched any cake!" she smiled. My god, she was right. I started to scarf down cake like there was no tomorrow. I wasn't going to let that delicious ambrosia of the gods go to waste, not on my wedding day! What I failed to realize is that I was about to step out in front of 80 guests and a photographer after stuffing my face with chocolate cake. And that is why you see photos like this:

Whatever. I have no regrets! None! I do what I want! I do wish we'd stopped at the end of the line and gave a big kiss for the camera, but I was in post-wedding shock and everything was feeling very surreal.

And like that it was over. Fourteen months of planning, thousands of dollars, hours upon hours of planning time, appointments, DIY crafts, all over in just a few short hours. But it was worth it because after all the flowers wilted, the milk glass was put away, the guests headed back to their homes -- at the end of it all, I was left holding the hand of my very best friend, the love of my life, my husband. 

And they had a lifetime of adventures! And lived happily ever after! And never fought about who was going to unload the dishwasher! 

Previously on The Camel Wedding Recaps: 

1) Getting Dressed & Exchanging Gifts

2) Putting on the White Dress

3) Our First Look

4) The Ceremony Begins

5) The Reading 

6) The Vows

7) The Kiss and Recessional 

8) The Bridal Party

9) Wedding Portraits

10) Food & Dances

11) Speeches & Cake

I'll Never Desert You: Speeches & Cake

At some point on your wedding day, time will start to pass more quickly; suddenly things begin to happen at warp-speed. For me, this occurred right after the speeches. In my hazy, overwhelmed bride-brain the night seemed to end approximately 10 minutes after the speeches were over. In reality, there were probably about two hours dwelling in there somewhere. For the life of me, I can't seem to find them now. I wish I could blame it on a bubbly champagne buzz, alas I was hardly drinking. 

All photographs are by Christopher Helm Photography. 

Teary eyed while listening to my dad's speech.

My dad dislikes being at the center of attention. When I asked him if he would give a speech at the wedding, he reluctantly agreed. I thought it was important since he and my stepmother graciously funded a large portion of our wedding. Plus, I selfishly wanted to hear my dad give a really sweet speech that I would always remember. 

I will never forget my dad standing there awkwardly, microphone and several pages of notes in hand. He had handwritten his speech on several pieces of paper, some of which looked suspiciously like napkins and hotel notepad paper. He fumbled nervously and endearingly with his papers as he worked his way through the speech. I wish I could transcribe it, but something tells me he has likely tossed it out by now. He spoke about how dear I was to him, and how he was so glad I met such an amazing man to be my husband. He also thanked all of our guests for traveling to be there from across the country, including my 87 year old grandmother. He reflected on the passing of my grandfather, but said he knew that Granddaddy Doug was watching us from a better place. 

Of course, it had me in tears, but they were happy tears and I was so proud of my dad in that moment. Several of my coworkers and friends who had never met my father remarked on what a great person he is. I couldn't agree more. 

Next up was Mr. C's brother-in-law and best man. He gave a heartwarming and humorous speech and might have mentioned that he knew that Mr. C had found "the one" the first time he saw our photos from the Atlanta sci-fi/fantasy convention DragonCon. 

Then my oldest friend and Matron of Honor, K, gave a hilarious speech that had the guests (and me) practically in tears. She spared no expense in embarrassing me. I guess that's the downside to knowing someone since you were five years old -- they know all of your secrets, embarrassing stories, and exploitable vices. Well played K, well played. But it was all in good fun and it was a great way to lift the mood after my father's emotional speech. Oh, and can I just saw how freaking beautiful she is? She has such a natural, effortless beauty. She looked amazing at the wedding! 

Luckily she didn't delve into too many personal details, but I think all of my coworkers now know a little too much about my childhood antics. 

Last but not least, Mr. C and I formally thanked my dad and stepmother for hosting such a fantastic evening and also Mr. C's father for hosting the rehearsal dinner. Ah, formalities. Thank yous for everyone! 

And then it was that sacred moment that no one openly admits they are waiting for -- CAKE. It's time for some freaking cake, but people had already been snacking on the plethora of French macarons we had displayed throughout the house and on the dessert table inside. Our wedding cake was moved outside for the official cake cutting. 

I never really told you guys about our wedding cake. This is partially because for a long time I was set on ordering two cakes from the Cheesecake Factory. Now, before you judge me, you must know that the Cheesecake Factory actually makes what I believe to be the BEST chocolate cake in the entire world. It's called Linda's Fudge Cake and it's six layers of pure chocolate heaven. It is so rich and moist that it is nigh on impossible to eat an entire slice in one sitting. Sometimes I will order a slice and keep it in the fridge for days, taking little indulgent bites every so often. I also love their key lime cheesecake, but if you haven't tried a massive slice of Linda's Fudge Cake yet, do yourself a favor and give it a chance next time!

When it came time to choose our cake I tried to imagine what type of cake I would want to eat on one of the most important days of my life. Admittedly, I'm not a very big cake fan to begin with, so your typical white cake with vanilla frosting isn't something I would indulge in when my sweet tooth is calling. I often refuse slices of birthday cake for the same reason. But Linda's Fudge Cake is a different story entirely, and that is what I immediately envisioned as I imagined my dream wedding cake. I spoke to Mr. C about it and he was absolutely on board. We'd order some cakes from the Cheesecake Factory, set up a dessert table with French macarons and call it a day. No crazy designs, no unappetizing fondant (though it makes for beautiful cakes), and no cake tastings (sad). 

But a few weeks before the wedding I started to second guess my choice. Two giant chocolate cakes didn't really fit with our light and airy decor or wedding "theme" and I didn't think they would look very cute in our cake cutting photos. I realize this is pretty superficial, but it's crap you think about when you are planning a wedding. Athens has a somewhat locally famous bakery, Cecilia's Cakes, and after a quick phone call I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they have very affordable wedding cakes. As a bonus, we were able to have the traditional cake tasting and in the end went with one of their most popular choices: lemon cake with vanilla buttercream frosting. I asked for a very simple, rustic look. In the end, I think it cost us less than $80, including delivery and the silver cake stand rental.

In the end we ended up having both the traditional white wedding cake AND the Linda's Fudge Cake (can you guess which one I told the caterer I wanted?) Sadly, I barely got to eat any of my own wedding cake. We were given the top to freeze but it just sat in the fridge until we tossed it out. Cecilia's offers brides a small, free cake on their anniversary anyway - so no need to force down some dry, freezer burned monstrosity for tradition's sake. 

After the cake cutting, the dance floor exploded in a frenzy of movement. My brother (our DJ) played some awesome music that got everyone out on the dance floor. Up next - getting down and getting out! 

Previously on The Camel Wedding Recaps: 

1) Getting Dressed & Exchanging Gifts

2) Putting on the White Dress

3) Our First Look

4) The Ceremony Begins

5) The Reading 

6) The Vows

7) The Kiss and Recessional 

8) The Bridal Party

9) Wedding Portraits

10) Food & Dances