Hannah + Kyle
We’ve had some gorgeous real weddings this week, and I’m so excited to end with this adorable DIY California wedding from Raya Carlisle Photography. Almost everything was found at vintage stores, which goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have an amazing wedding. Here’s more from the bride…
The wedding definitely had a vintage feel. We both have a passion for vintage things and do lots of shopping at the flea market here in Santa Cruz, so it seemed only natural for the wedding to be filled with all our favorite vintage treasures.
Originally our colors were brown and yellow, but that didn’t last very long. Once we decided the bridesmaids were going to wear mix-and-match vintage dresses I had to add some mint and salmon to the color palette. I felt like I was breaking the “rules” of wedding to have so many colors, but in the end I loved how all the colors looked together.
When I met with my florist and friend Erin Adams I told her I wanted flowers that were colorful, vintage, and had a wild hand-picked look. In my bouquet she used golden craspedia and dahlias to give it those bright colors, maidenhair ferns for a more wispy shape, and little chamomile that look like daisies to give it a vintage look and tie it in with the daisies on my headpiece.
The bridesmaids carried clutches down the aisle in place of bouquets. (Handmade by my dear mother!) The groomsmen weren’t wearing suits and had nowhere to put a boutonniere, but Kyle wore a single golden craspedia. We also hung flowers from the trees in mason jars. There were some behind us for the ceremony, and others hanging above tables during the reception. And for our centerpieces Erin created organic mounds of moss with a twig to hold up the table number.
We did a lot of DIY projects that definitely made the wedding unique and more personal. The second we laid eyes on the redwoods in the grassy area behind the Corralitos Community Center we envisioned lanterns and chandaliers lighting our reception at dusk. My mom and I put wire around mason jars and tied twine to the wire, making lanterns that could easily be hung from the redwoods and filled with candles, flowers, and oversize whirly lollipops. I found a few old chandaliers at the flea market and antique fair here in Santa Cruz and my dad set out to restore them, fixing the worn-out electrical. We also made the arch for our ceremony. We gathered twigs and branches and wired them to a wooden arch which was stained a dark walnut color. The day of the wedding we draped moss over some of the branches and sprinkled it on the ground below the arch. When flowers were hung in mason jars behind the arch, our little redwood grove ceremony became so beautifully colorful and woodsy.
Another DIY project that gave our wedding a more personal touch was our place cards. I found a seller on etsy who was willing to make me a custom order of yellow die cut birds. Kyle and I hand stamped each guest’s name and table number on the little birds in a typewriter font. Although it was a tedious project, it was well worth the work. On the day of the wedding we clipped the little yellow birds to a line with clothespins. They were adorable!
There are so many favorite memories, but the one that stands out most is the one I wasn’t expecting. Kyle and I have always loved music and, in fact, it was playing music that brought us together. Completely unbeknownst to me, Kyle and his groomsmen hid musical instruments behind a tree. Before our vows began they pulled out their guitars and harmonicas and Kyle sang a song he had written for me in the weeks leading up to the wedding. With words like “darlin’ take my hand” and “I wanna grow old with you”… I was a total disaster. I looked back and saw a line of teary eyed bridesmaids. Luckily my sister-in-law Annie had tissue at hand. And thank god for waterproof mascara.
I would have to say my favorite detail from the wedding were the whirly pops. We gave one to each of the children as a wedding favor, and the second dinner had ended there were kids walking around licking lollipops bigger than their heads. I think I even saw a lollipop sword fight. There was nothing more precious than all those sticky little lips, chins, and noses.
Sherry writes
Wow! What a beautiful wedding. I kinda regret not having a vintage outdoor theme. Although I would never take back what I did do :)
Danielle writes
does anyone know where she got her hat/veil, and fascinator from? I’m looking for something similar with a vintage feel and am having a hard time.
Vanessa writes
Wow – this is perfect. I love love love this wedding!
tara writes
So pretty! I’m also wondering about the veil/head piece. Anyone know where it’s from? Such a beautiful wedding!
perfect bound writes
I love the photo of the dresses hung up between the trees. I would wear each one of those plus the bride’s gown in a heat beat! I love how the photographer captured all the fashionable moments, esp the kisses. Congrats to the happy couple!
Shila writes
This is so gorgeous!
My favorite part is that she included what her bouquet was made of. There are so many I see that I love but I don’t know what the flower is called! Thanks for that!
Chaucee writes
It’s here! Finally :) Absolutely gorgeous.
TH writes
I love her hair piece!
True Blind Faith writes
Simply stunning! Love the details. The beautiful photos with the redwoods bring back happy memories of when I lived in Capitola. Congrats!
Sarah writes
This wedding is so lovely! I live in Santa Cruz and loved seeing this adorable wedding happened so close to home. Thank you for the inspiration!
Marie writes
Wow, this wedding was stunning. I loved the theme (and I’m not a huge fan of vintage but this was just amazing)! The details were amazing as well.
Ashley writes
This wedding was amazing and perfectly photographed. Love + Vision + Vision = Wordless. Wow.
Melissa writes
Agreement to all previous comments– what a beautiful wedding!
I would love some more information on the veil/headpiece as well!
Dana Cordova writes
Wow, such a beautiful event—everything works so well together and I love the colors. And, great programs!
mysi anne writes
i’m not sure i’ve ever seen a more amazing wedding. oh, to be the photographer of it. i would perish. <3 <3
the southern hostess writes
I love all the different dresses. So colorful and freeing for the bridesmaids!
Alejandra writes
Those details! So much DIY and vintage elements– beautiful. AND that’s my wedding photographer for my summer wedding! I can’t wait :)
Becca Pirwitz writes
oh, man! this wedding is so cool! i love hanging candles in mason jars out in trees for summer dinners…
and the groom singing a song he wrote himself????? i only hope i have a husband as cool as this someday!
:)
acacia writes
hi everyone, so hannah made both her hair pieces. we found the vintage veil piece at a vintage store and she removed the tulle and added her own as well as the vintage brooche. for her hair piece for the reception, she used those white ostrich feathers and attached some tulle and another brooche.
hope this helps!
Sarah Jane writes
Such a gorgeous wedding!
My fiance and I just decided yesterday what we want our guys to wear, and looking at this today was great, that’s exactly it!
Love the bridesmaid’s gowns as well, how unique!
Melissa writes
Thanks for the info on the headpieces! They’re both so gorgeous– if only they could be purchased! That makes them that much more special though. =)
Congrats to the lucky bride and groom! =D
Raya writes
Thanks everyone for the sweet comments – it makes me so happy in my heart! The minute I spotted those awesome dresses and asked…”are these the bridesmaid dresses?” I knew it was going to be a dream to photograph. Hannah & Kyle are a special couple, their wedding was perfectly them : )
Kathy writes
Those dresses on the clothesline are adorable. What a great idea.
Natalie writes
Such a gorgeous wedding! I wish the happy couple the very very best! I was wondering if anyone could direct me to that dress… I looked at the moonlight collection, and call me crazy but I didn’t see it. I would really appreciate it as that dress is stunning. The photos are just amazing!
Michelle Scotti writes
Oh my gosh, this wedding is incredible!
becky writes
o so very incredible! it put a huge smile on my face!
[...] lastly, i love this groomsmen photograph that once wed posted. [...]
franny writes
as natalie wrote above- i love this dress but i can’t find it on moonlight’s website. is it definitely moonlight?
shasha writes
it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL… How long ago was this? 60 years?
[...] I love, love, love the idea of using mason jars to hold candles in and having those strung from the trees for lighting for the reception. {source} [...]
avery writes
I love this wedding! This is the wedding gown I just ordered for myself! Made me that much more thrilled! I love all the vintage aspects. I’ve thought of using mason jars as well! Simply adorable.
[...] (photo credit: Raya Carlisle, via Once Wed) [...]
[...] (Badgley Mischka Carlo Pump in Black) Headband: Pegasusmaiden on Etsy (Mona in Black) Dance Sign: OnceWed (Hannah + Kyle) Centerpiece Element: A. Hana Design (featured on OnceWed) Flowers: OnceWed [...]
Audrey writes
I am stoked to have come across this beautiful post…especially because the bride is wearing the wedding dress I just purchased! What a lovely preview of the dress…and a sweet, unique, vintage-y affair to boot. Thank you!