Fresh as a Daisy, a Real Wedding – Anna & Jackson

Posted on: 03/11/2010

.

Simple, pretty and personal, I love Anna’s home grown Real Wedding celebration.

..

.

..

.

Anna writes:

..

Jackson and I got married on May 30, 2009. I was a reluctant planner at first. Our first venue was a local restaurant that promptly went out of business. Luckily one of the other venues we considered had an

opening for the same day.

.

.

.

.

I got involved in a wedding message board  (see MakeUpAlley’s Wedding Board). The ladies online were so supportive, so interested in everything – I have to say I started thinking of projects just so I could take

pictures and share.

.

Our ceremony and reception were at the Lake Temescal Beach House in Oakland, California. The building was built in 1940 by the WPA and has a bit of a log cabin feel. Lots of nature, very secluded!

.

We had a late afternoon ceremony and evening reception with about 60 of our nearest and dearest. I wrote the ceremony, and it was short and sweet.

.

.

.

.

My matron of honour was my best friend from high school and Jackson’s brother was his best man.

.

.

.

.

Our good friend played violin for the processional and recessional – he learned a song from the movie Dr. Zhivago at my request. My grandparents had a music box that played the same song. My parents

walked me down the aisle, and another one of our good friends officiated.

.

.

.

.

.

.

My dress was custom made by a dressmaker in Alaska (found via Etsy). A strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline, made of duchess satin. She made a teal petticoat and a matching teal sash.

.

.

.

.

I pinned a dogwood brooch that belonged to my great-grandmother on the sash. I had a matching

necklace and earrings and faux dogwood flowers in my hair.

.

.

.

.

I wore the same shoes my matron of honour wore for her wedding.

.

. .

.

My matron of honour made our bouquets from chrysanthemums. Our reception flowers were potted Osteospermums (African Daisies). The guests took them home at the end of the night.

.

.

.

.

.

.

After the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour with tray passed appetizers. We set up a clothes line with pictures from our childhoods as well as our life together so far.

.

.

.

.

Our favours were squares of Ghirardelli chocolate. Our food was from Wild Thyme Catering – we

had a buffet and the stuffed portobello mushrooms were the star, in my opin

.

.

.

.

After a champagne toast and dinner, our first dance was to Greg Brown’s "Steady Love." We had a sound system and a laptop set up with our favourite songs.

.

.

When it was time for the cake, we found our caterers had really outdone themselves! We had a lemon cake to cut and also a chocolate cake, a berry cobbler with fresh whipped cream, and an array of mini cheesecakes, eclairs, and cookies.

.

.

.

.

In the end, I loved planning the wedding. I especially loved having everyone together to celebrate – our friends, my family, Jackson’s family – it was wonderful.

.

.

.

.

Anna’s photographs are by Erez Avraham. 

.

Are you a crafty bride who has added a personal touch to her own Real Wedding?

. 

Contact Brides Up North to see your Real Wedding featured here.