With “All You Need Is Love” crooning in the background, we departed from the altar through floating bubbles as husband and wife. The path to say “I do” was complete with a horse-drawn carriage, DIY touches, and the groom breaking the rules with a stolen kiss during the homily. Read on for the details behind it all!
First, let’s talk about the flowers, because they were by far one of my favorite touches of the day. We wanted florals to be the key decor focal point of the ceremony and reception, and it was important for us to work with someone local, which is why we pinched ourselves when we found Black Dog Farms. It’s run by an organic florist named Beth, who left her corporate job to work on her passion, and was absolutely wonderful to work with. Not only was she cost effective, but she personalized everything from the arbor and petal-lined aisle to the bouquets and vases. The end result was absolutely stunning – the colors popped against the greenery of the vineyard without being too loud, and the flowers themselves were full and lush.
On either side of the aisle there were wine barrels holding vases, the ceremony program, bubbles and a DIY reclaimed window sign made by yours truly. I got crafty with wording for the sign, which said “Pick a seat, any seat. With love, there’s no right side. Let’s unite, we’re all family, once the groom kisses his bride.” It ended up being such a cute opening to the ceremony area and helped to set the tone for the wedding as a whole being rustic and filled with lots of personal touches.
All the music for the ceremony was done by a string quartet, which was lovely paired with the romance of the vineyard.
For the processional, all the moms were walked down the aisle by their sons, with their husbands close by, to “Air” by Bach. Because all the sons were also a part of the wedding party, they returned to the bridesmaids who were standing nearby waiting to walk down the aisle, with the exception of Doug who stayed at the front of the aisle. Once all the parents were seated, the bridal party walked down to “Yellow” by Coldplay.
May your marriage bring you all the exquisite excitements a marriage should bring, and may life grant you also patience, tolerance, and understanding. May you always need one another – not so much to fill your emptiness as to help you to know your fullness.
A mountain needs a valley to be complete; the valley does not make the mountain less, but more; and the valley is more a valley because it has a mountain towering over it. So let it be with you and you.
May you need one another, but not out of weakness.
May you want one another, but not out of lack.
May you entice one another, but not compel one another.
May you embrace one another, but not out encircle one another.
May you succeed in all-important ways with one another, and not fail in the little graces.
May you look for things to praise, often say, “I love you!” and take no notice of small faults.
If you have quarrels that push you apart, may both of you hope to have good sense enough to take the first step back.
May you enter into the mystery which is the awareness of one another’s presence – no more physical than spiritual, warm and near when you are side by side, and warm and near when you are in separate rooms or even distant cities.
May you have happiness, and may you find it making one another happy.
May you have love, and may you find it loving one another!
Excerpt from The Alchemist
It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time.
What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant.
There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning.
20 comments
Emily, I am pretty much obsessed with your wedding week series! I love that you are sharing the sweet and tender moments of your big day and all the personal touches!
Thanks so much, Julie!
Haha oh my gosh, I didn’t even think about the finger swelling thing! Too funny
Sooo swollen!
The ceremony really looks like something out of a fairy tale! I love the readings you choose.
Thank you! Honestly, the readings were some of the hardest to choose. There are so many great ones out there!
I love the ceremony space! it’s perfect. xo jillian – cornflake dreams
Such a dream!
PS – Hope you are loving your new place. I need to hear all about the move!
My fingers swell in the slightest heat and I didn’t ever think of that being a problem, ahh! The carriage is the sweetest, most romantic thing yet. 🙂
Oh my gosh, you should have seen my face when it pulled up. I was honestly shocked! It was such a fun, wonderful addition to the day.
how beautiful!!! such a dreamy setting…
Thanks, Jill! It truly was such a beautiful setting. I can’t believe we hadn’t heard about the vineyard before searching for venues!
So very pretty! Congratulations!
Thanks so much, Laura!
Omgsh, you are the cutest couple ever!! I love you too!!! You’re wedding was beautiful! 🙂
Thanks, Sarah! xo
I’m catching up on these posts and I’m literally smiling at my computer! You made the most beautiful bride – and you can see that there was so much JOY that day! Eeee congratulations, pretty lady! I hope to see ya soon!!
Thank you, Lauren!! Yes, we must get together soon – hope you’re doing well.
So romantic!! The flowers are gorgeous and I loved the barrels at the end of the aisle.
You’re a wonderful couple, you look so happy it’s lovely! And last but not least your dress is just gorgeous! Belated congratulations! 🙂