On the 4th day of weddings, The Overwhelmed Bride inspired me...
This Serra Plaza wedding in San Juan Capistrano, California was one I will never forget! A classic black and white wedding which took place in the beautiful courtyard, was transformed into the reception area with chandeliers hanging overhead as the guests danced the night away!
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Written with love, by Sarah-Elizabeth Stone
There's something very important that happens to a woman when she's planning a wedding; she gets to learn all about her inner voice, or as some people sweetly call it – 'Bridezilla'. Bridezilla likes to come out during the most stressful of occasions, and rear her painfully honest head at the best and worst of times. She has very honorable intentions of telling the absolute truth, no matter the consequences. She is a beacon of perfection, or so she'll have you think.
Christmas is one of those occasions where Bridezilla will grow tired of Uncle Bob's politics, or Aunt Stacy's laugh. She really couldn't be bothered to eat another boring salad, and don't get her started on the gifts that cousin Rachel got her this year. Bridezilla will remind you that absolutely no one knows how to drive in this city. She is disgusted by how long the line ups are anywhere these days, and she delights in telling you that no sale is worth dealing with the lady behind the counter.
I've found personal success in quelling my inner voice with an amazing glass of wine, and some exciting food. Spice things up this Christmas season and revel as Bridezilla's jaw literally hits the floor.
• 3-4 slices of bread
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup of grated Havarti
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup of pesto (or pasta) sauce
• 1 cup of chopped pickles
• 1 tablespoon of pickle juice
• ¼ head of iceberg lettuce
• 6 cups of kale
• 1 cup of cherry tomatoes, halved
• 150 grams of sliced roast beef
• 200 grams of sliced turkey
1. Preheat oven to 400F
2. To make croutons; cut bread into cubes and toss in a bowl with olive oil and shredded cheese, arrange on a tray and bake for about 5 minutes
3. To make dressing; mix the mayonnaise, pesto sauce and pickle juice in a small bowl
4. Warm cherry tomatoes in a frying pan, over low heat until seared
5. In a large bowl mix the kale, iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, pickles roast beef/sliced turkey, croutons, toss with dressing and serve.
On the 3rd day of weddings, The Overwhelmed Bride inspired me...
Alex and Mandee spent the last three years planning their perfect evening. Mandee, being a designer and a born creative, took it upon herself to plan every aspect of the day on her own. She found the venue, which was a completely blank slate, an industrial art gallery in Reading, Pennsylvania. The only thing the venue provided was tables, so it was the challenge that the couple liked most about this venue - it would be a night all their own!
Mandee crafted and hunted for the perfect decor for months and months, and made sure every last detail was done to perfection. She took on calligraphy classes, designed and printed all of the invitations, painted every sign and drove herself crazy over the little stuff. The couple potted all the favors, build custom industrial bars, and measured out the most adorable seating chart. It was all just perfect!
They booked a band for the reception which was Alex's and Mandee's number one must-have, with the close second being the photographer. They hired one of their good friends knowing he would capture their true selves. Mandee and Alex knew they would have to do a first look in order to give the photographers the time they needed to get all of the shots they knew they had to have. The first look brought tears to both of their eyes which was so special.
They walked down the aisle with 150 of their closest family and friends and Alex's brother met them at alter to perform their ceremony. The personal touches, their own vows, and the intimacy of the warm, cozy alter decor made everyone in the room feel the love they had for one another. The bridemaids were all in their own unique dresses and shades of metallic and gold. The groomsmen had the perfect gray tweed suits with camel buttons that complemented the girls in the best way!
The cocktail hour took place in a large art gallery where their guests were able to admire all of the beautiful art Goggleworks had on display. Guess then moved up to the reception space around 6pm, to find beautiful long rows of tables with plumosa and fern garland running down the center of the tables. The centerpieces were homemade PVC pipe cut into all different lengths and sizes with slits in them to show the light from the candle inside. A challenge Mandee and Alex faced at the historic goggle factory was the no candle rule. Mandee did not want to be using fake candles, unless there was some how they could use them without knowing they were fake. It was on one of many trips to Home Depot that Mandee thought, "What better way to disguise them and bring interest to the long lines of seating than unique pvc decor!" It turned out awesome! Each table had its own unique cluster which just sparkled.
The dinner was served at stations and dessert followed with pumpkin cheese cake, a delicious 23k gold foil wedding cake, and the groom's favorite, waffles and ice-cream. The night went on with a photo booth and four hours dancing! The details didn’t go unnoticed, and Mandee and Alex’s years of planning finally came to an end. It was the most amazing evening celebrated with their friends and family!
Goggleworks in Reading, Pennsylvania - Margaret Murphy // Ceremony + Reception Venue
Zachary Hartzell // Photography
Mycalyns Flora // Floral Designer
The Uptown Band // Band
Cozze Cakes // Bakery
BHLDN Contessa Gown, Bought at Philadelphia Naval Yard // Bridal Gown
Greylin, Asos, BCBG, Bebe // Bridesmaid Dresses
Bell Tower Salon // Hair + Makeup
Asos // Groom + Groomsmen Attire
Rental World // Rentals
