Mrs. Lemon, Los Angeles/Monterey
Age and Occupation in 06: 26, Graduate Student (Public Policy)
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 29, Environmental Consultant
Engagement Date: April 7, 2006
Wedding Date: July 7, 2007
Venue: Rosary Chapel & Monterey Marriott, Monterey, CA
About Me: My FI and I met online, but we like to tell people that we met at a "cookie shop" which is the technical location of our first encounter. He proposed exactly 1 year, 1 month and 6 days after our first date (it's the only part of his proposal speech that I remember), and we're planning long-distance from Los Angeles for a July wedding in my hometown of Monterey, CA. I have a passion for all things "cool, cute and quirky" and I enjoy video games, reading blogs (WeddingBee, trashy celeb, consumer & political) and crafting in my spare time, if I have any!
Making The Space Work For Us
February 14th, 2008 @ 1:10 pm by Mrs. Lemon
When Mr. Lemon and I visited our reception hall the first time we were simply fixated on the windows and the view. The second time around, we focused in on the details… and there was a glaring problem that we had right when you walked off of the elevator:
Now I’m all for celebrating Monterey’s fishing history (despite the way my Dad describes the afternoon stench of the city in the 40s & 50s), but seeing those photos on the wall doesn’t exactly scream, “Let’s Celebrate!” Mr. Lemon examined the photos only to learn that they were quite bolted to the wall which meant they couldn’t be tucked away and stored in the coat closet. He left me with the task of eliminating them from the reception and I let my mind wander toward a solution.
My solution was all quite simple. I decided to make a wooden frame that would sit on top of the canvas boxed photos on the wall, cover it with some sort of canvas material and slap on our favorite engagement photos in poster sizes. The frame would be light enough not to damage the photo underneath, and the fish (along with the giant mug shot of Mr. Ferrantes) would be hidden from view!
The wood to build the frame cost around $5 and I found some white interior decorating fabric for about $6. We stretched the fabric and stapled it to the frame (just like you’d stretch a normal canvas), but we decided it still needed an extra touch. We taped off a border on each canvas and painted it gold, leaving a bit of white inside to center the poster. I had the posters printed at El-Co Color Labs while they were running a 2-for-1 special, so it was around $22 for all four posters. We attached the posters to the fabric using foam wall tape and they were ready for the reception!
(gotta LOVE the metallic print paper… it does amazing things with sunset prints!)
12 Responses to “Making The Space Work For Us”
I’m such a fool because I didn’t realize you were married in Monterey!! We’re getting married there this October 
(ceremony site is Carmel River State Beach and reception site is the Old Whaling Station)!! I can’t wait to read more about you wonderful day and get some ideas
That’s incredible! What a great idea!
We have this great space next to the bar at our venue with couches that I love - except for the fact that behind the couches are similar memorials. I wonder if I could cover them somehow… Great idea Mrs. Lemon, thanks!!
My FI and are having our cermony under a grove of trees. The only draw-back is the no-smoking sign that is bolted to the center tree. It would be directly about the head of our officiant. I’ve asked the site to move it and they said they would. But just in case my FFIL (a wood-worker) is bringing his tool-kit.
Great solution! And such good pictures too
Fabulous idea! I love the last one with the sunset.
Mrs. Lemon - quick question, if you don’t mind my asking: where do you order your metallic prints?
Thanks!
HCB - the Fugi metallic poster was purchased at El-Co (link above). I’ve purchased my normal sized metallic prints at AdoramaPix.com. They have 4×6 Kodak Endura prints for only $0.29… and you can get them free too as a new member.
OMG - how did I miss that?!? Sorry… and thank you!
Did you do anything with the giant pics afterwards? I can just picture your parents having this giant “Shrine” of your engagement pics hanging in their spare room
Pengy… don’t be exposing the secret rituals at my parents house to the world!
For now the photos are still at home, but Mr L’s parents asked for one poster and my parents for another. We’re hanging onto the sunset photo for our house (somewhere) … so that left us with one to spare.
What a great way to turn ‘lemons’ into lemonade! haha
I love the last pic.
