This September, I was privileged to help style a wedding for a dear friend's daughter. I knew that it would be extra fun and exciting to do my favorite things: create beauty and style parties, but I didn't realize how much this event would bless my heart. The wedding was prepared by many loving hands and willing hearts, in a united act of love for a deserving family. So many people helped plan, decorate, and execute. I was fortunate to be a small part of it! Each person brought their own talent and together a gentle, beautiful symphony was created.
My friend Cathy has a truly GOOD heart. She guides her family in a quiet and real truth. Cathy makes me smile. Her daughter Amy was a stunning bride! Amy is naturally beautiful and kindness surrounds her.
This Mama and daughter have such an adorable sense of style! Their eyes are drawn to charming flea market finds and re-purposed furniture. The wedding was a bit of shabby, a tiny hint of country, rustic throughout, and a lot of flea market goodness.
Aspen trees are a Colorado signature and they were used in much of the wedding decor. These aspen vases were made out of a big aspen tree that had fallen. They were skillfully carved to hold wildflowers.
Mason jar glasses with delicate lavender straws
Pears were laced throughout the wedding decor and also used as party favors , celebrating "The Perfect Pair".
For the guest book, Amy created a photo book of her and her groom. It was such an awesome idea and the perfect keepsake!
More pears balanced on candlesticks...
Random shaped glass jars filled with flowers and hanging by twine, dangled above the gift table.
A wire birdcage held the cards of well wishes...
Cathy had this incredible concept to create a "long line of love" photo display of generations of their family on their wedding days. A row of wedding photos of the bride and groom's parents and grandparents lined the stone wall. (I would SO do this if I was able to have a wedding again) ;)
(photo credit: captivated studio)
The photos were arranged around dancing aspen leaves and white stubby candles in various sized mason jars.
The ceremony was set at the edge of a hill, overlooking the snow-capped peaks that pierced the blue sky. It was gorgeous! God pulled the rain back, creating a serene evening of sunshine for the wedding.
Tall copper torches marked the natural path to the white carpet of the ceremony.
And the celebration begins...
The couple demonstrated their love, with the symbolized act of service by washing one another's feet.
Earlier I mentioned how this wedding blessed my heart. I was overcome with peace as I was surrounded by genuine people. The atmosphere was incredible. Every laugh, comment, tear, and prayer was rooted in true love and deep faith. I was inspired by the simplicity of life that this wedding evoked as it drew focus to the real things that mattered and erased the extra fluff. The character of those around me was comforting and admirable. It encouraged me to live a life of purpose, to stand strong in my beliefs, and to use my emotion and love for the good and betterment of us all.
The event venue was at a pretty cabin in the forest...
This extra creative idea, compliments of the mother of the bride: Cathy's wedding dress and Amy's girlhood dresses were cut up and made into adorable pendant banners to line the walls of the cabin!
And the party begins!
Dinner is done...
~ B L I S S ~
When the sun escaped, an extra cozy and romantic atmosphere evolved. Candles were lit, the big cabin fire stayed strong, and small fire pits were randomly placed around the outside grounds.
I was in love with these warm fire pits!
Baskets of vintage quilts were rolled and tied, ready to be used and cuddled up with around the fires!
I remember being a young girl attending weddings. I would imagine a fairlyland of wishes as I dreamed of my special day. And I suppose those dreams simply carry on for generations. I spy young girls looking up in wide eyed wonder at brides and am reminded of my own childhood wonder. Those girlhood desires are forever passed on to the next...and the next.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His face shine upon you,
and be gracious unto you:
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you
and give you peace."
- Numbers 6:24
This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, Think Pink Sundays, Seasonal Sundays, Met Monday, Making the World Cuter, Tuesday Tutorials and Tips, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up
39 comments:
What a lovely wedding! Don't you just love the way the Lord blesses your heart for serving others!
Wow, what a unique, beautiful wedding!
What an absolutely lovely wedding...made even more so by all the loving hands that prepared it. This is so much the kind of wedding Marty and I had wanted to have.
I am going to send my great niece the link to your blog...she writes a wedding blog. There are so many wonderful ideas here...she'll be over the moon!
Hugs,
Jane
ps Now that I'm feeling more human, I'll get your cookbook shipped to you...probably early next week.
There is nothing about this wedding that I don't like.. it is sooo sweet and cozy! LOVED the long line of love, the bubble gum, quilts and tree vases!!! So happy you were able to be part of such a blessed day!
What extra-special touches were included in this wedding. I'm sure it was the start of what I hope will be a glorious life for this couple.
Beautiful. Peaceful. Happy. Reading about this wedding makes me feel all of those things.
It is touching to see people who love so deeply. And not just Cheyne & Amy, but everyone who participated. I hope our boys marry into a family just like theirs.
How lovely!!!...I've been married for 22 years, but these photos want to make me do it all over again just like this!!...nice to meet you, Mariaelena
O dear, pass the tissue please.
Wow...I wish I was a guest at your wedding :)
Oh this is so great! I loved the perfect pair stuff!
I am designing my brothers vintage rustic outdoor wedding on my blog :) fun stuff!
Lina
Fancy Frugal Life
I wanted to look closely at each picture as I read your post to ensure that I didn't miss a single detail. What a lovely wedding, thanks so much for sharing. :)
What a beautiful love story...I've just posted one too, on the other end of life, hope you have some time to drop by...
http://upcyclingmylife.blogspot.com/2011/09/love-story.html
The perfect pear - I LOVE it!
Stunning! Makes me want to get married again-- well, to the same man, of course! :)
Wow, loved the photo essay of this lovely wedding. I am a new follower. What a beautiful journey.
Wow....where to start? Absolutely amazing use of so many elements. Are those paper bags on the tables? Whoever thought of that deserves a ticker tape parade...using recycled paper, of course! It kidn of reminds me of that cool paper bag treatment I've seen on the walls of some very chic homes. Great look! The Aspen tree vases were just too fabulous. I think they were one of my favorite elements. Using the Mason jars is great because not only do they look good, but they can be reused to can all those pears!!! It is more than obvious that a lot of love, caring and sharing went into this wedding. God blessed the couple with beautiful weather and the love of friends & family. Best wishes to them, and kudos to you and all who helped fulfill a little girl's childhood dreams!
Everything about that wedding was charming and unique and inspiring!
How lovely, thoughtful and beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Found you via Fireflies and Jellybeans. Toodles, Kathryn http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/chest.html
This is such a beautiful post it just makes me want to cry!! I cry at weddings anyway, so no surprise there. A lot of love went into the planning and it shows with so many beautiful and creative ideas. The alter or arch was so lovely! I love the mason jars and the pears... oh my how sweet. Beautiful bride! AND beautiful mom! God bless the happy couple!!
Hi! This is my first visit to your blog. I love how you used so many natural elements, never taking away from the beautiful surroundings of the Rocky Mountains. You came up with so many creative ideas, I'm sure the wedding party and guests felt very special! I am your newest follower!
Beautiful photos and what a fabulous location.
(visiting from Shabby Creek Cottage)
Hi Elaine, thank you for following! :) I appreciate your warm comments about the wedding, it was truly very beautiful! However, I didn't do most the wedding. Most of it was planned and designed by the mother and the bride. I just helped throw together some details in the decor. ;)
What a beautiful setting, and great decorations.
This is one of the most wonderful weddings I have seen! Everything is so unique, special to the couple, and perfect in all detail. Great, great ideas here. Visiting from Seasonal Sundays. xo,
How pretty. What a lovely wedding. You did a wonderful job!
Dropping by from BNOTP.
Allison
Atticmag
Hidden Laundry
Such a lovely wedding. Thanks for sharing!
:) crafty texas girls
What a love filled celebration. It was filled with charm and pure pleasure in family and friends. Simple, fresh touches... What a beautiful day!
You were featured today!
Come grab a button!
http://kim-toomuchtimeonmyhands.blogspot.com/2011/10/good-morning-sunshine_09.html
This was my first visit to your blog (linked to from May Days). My mom is getting married in April. My Dad passed away 9 years ago. So I'm "collecting" ideas for her special day. I wasn't at this wedding, I don't know this couple, but I was blessed, nonetheless, from your recounting of their wedding day. When I got to the part where they "washed each other's feet", the tears were rolling down my face. That.....was pure beauty, pure love, pure joy. Thank you for sharing.
So many things to love here! Thank you for giving us a peak of such a special event. Cherry Kay
Perfection! I am in love with every aspect of their wedding. The "long line of love" is such an awesome idea! Everyone loves looking back at family pictures :) What a beautiful bride she is!
Great wedding, and what a terrific job you did posting and photographing this rustic, unique and totally loving event. Love the pears on candlesticks, the cabin adorned with pendants, and so much more. Thanks for posting. ~CJ
As my Aunt Jane said, I am over the moon! What an incredible wedding with such amazing decoration ideas! I love how pieces of their families and hometown were brought in to the design. So incredible. I will definitely be featuring some of these ideas and pictures in my blog. Love it!
I feel as though I can understand what you felt, being a part of the preparations and as an observer...it's truly beautiful in its innocent simplicity.
This looks like so much fun!So different. Glad that you became a part of Seasonal Sundays.
- The Tablescaper
What a beautiful wedding!
Love the uniqueness of the wedding it's quite lovely!
hey this is jacks
first of all i would like to say many many congrats to both of you.
2nd thing i actually really like your photography because thing is photographs makes your wedding alive for ever.
regards
jacks..
I want to make sure that it is very important to see whether or not his is something that is going to improve in many way.
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