For the first wedding I’m sharing in 2012, Kelli & Brian really set the bar high! Another talented duo (How lucky am I to feature all these creative couples, huh!?), they envisioned an evening garden party with rustic touches and vintage elements. They brought their dream wedding to life with the backdrop of the beautiful Los Calamigos Ranch and a pretty palette of browns, ivory, moss and terra cotta. Cassie of Cfuertez Photography captured everything, from the invitations (Brian carved the clay stamp for their wax seal himself!) to the canopy of lights (LED tea lights bundled together and hung by Kelli)… and this wedding is sure to get your creative juices flowing!
From Kelli, “I scrounged around my parent’s garden to find the weathered garden posts that became our escort card display as well as our wedding/ceremony signpost. The riverstone table markers were also collected from home and painted up to match the vintage look. The quill pen for the guest book was handmade from a red hawk feather that I had found while hiking a few years ago, and the napkin accents were alder cones that I had been collecting from the trees around my apartment the few months prior to the wedding.”
“I think perhaps my favorite piece in the end was the cake stand… the base was a stump that I saved from the campfire that summer and with the help of my dad, got it mounted with a wooden top that I found at Joann’s. I added just a little moss and lichen to get the look that it had just been plucked from out of the garden. Kathy, my matron of honor’s sister and a long time friend of mine went to the task of building a gorgeous cake from the concept I had painted early on in our planning (You can tell that we are big fans of Miyazaki). I found a recipe for amaretto soaked figs and thought it would make a wonderful filling, so we mixed it with cream cheese and were knocked off our feet! She did all the rest, while I added the finishing touches of the chocolate henna design. Guests were served slices of cake drizzled with my mom’s homemade berry sauce—offerings of the previous year’s harvest from the boysenberry patch in her garden.”
All Photos by Cfuertez Photography
Participating Vendors
Wedding Venue: Los Calamigos Ranch
Floral Designer: Perfectly Pink Floral Design
Makeup: Joanna San Antonio
Hair: Sarah Yoorim Choi
Submitted via Two Bright Lights
Crafting your own event details? The craft supply guide has all the supplies you’ll need! Or perhaps you’re looking for something handmade for your upcoming party? Head on over to the handmade vendor guide, too!
Amanda says
Wow, I love the style of this wedding! It’s stylish, elegant, charming and vintage without being too much of each. I especially love how the vintage look was created with understated tones.
Damaris Orellana says
I absolutely love the centerpiece! Where did you get the tree branch? Is it a manzanita? Any insight would be very helpful…thanks 🙂
Cassie says
Yup! They are manzanita braches!!!
Erika Rymsha says
I love your style!!! Where did you order your invitations from, they are exactly what I have been searching for 🙂 please let me know!
Kelly says
Hi Erika!
The invitations were actually designed + made by the bride herself!
Kelly
Kristine Tang says
Hi Kelly! Do you know if the bride is making that font available for reapplication of other brides?
Thanks,
Kristine
Steph says
Where did you guys find your Totoro cake toppers? I’ve been looking and haven’t had much luck — found one on Etsy but yours are so much better!
Kelly says
Hi Steph!
Kelli bought these toppers on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/listing/60500177/set-of-3-totoro-doll-studio-ghibli-mini) and re-painted them herself! Hope that helps!
Kelly
Steph says
Thanks! They’re super cute!
Bella Eventi by Olivia George says
Love the rustic charm!
Brittany Hodge says
Do you have directions on how to make the wedding invites, because I am in love with them and I definately want them and my fiance likes them too, so it is a winner.
Kelly says
Hi Brittany!
Congratulations on your engagement! The invitations were custom designed by the bride herself so unfortunately I don’t have instructions or templates for them. I would recommend searching Etsy for a designer with a similar aesthetic! Best of luck with your wedding planning!
Kelly
Yeidy says
Love the rustic cake stand! Where did you find it?
Kelly says
Hi Yeidy!
Kelli and her father actually made that cake stand! Pretty amazing, huh? I’ve seen similar rustic-style wood stands on Etsy, perhaps you can try a search there! Hope that helps!
Kelly
Erinn says
Hi there….this is a laaaaate comment and question…but LOVE your twinkle lights at the reception. How did you do those. It looks magical.
Kelly says
Hi Erinn! Unfortunately I didn’t design this event, so I don’t know specifically how they did the lights. But I do agree they are gorgeous! I would try wrapping or draping them over tree branches to get the same effect!
Kelly
Tracey says
Where did you get those hanging lights for the tress!! In love!!