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Real Weddings About: The real weddings of weddingbee readers.
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Real Weddings: Rebecca and Cory

March 6th, 2009 @ 3:53 pm by Real Weddings

Venue(s): Delaware Museum of Natural History
Wedding Date: September 13, 2008
Bridal Gown Designer: Jim Hjelm
Florist: Flowers by Mary Elizabeth
Photographer: Jeremy Evans Thomas (second shooter: Mary Kate Burgess of Kate’s Lens)
Cake: Cakes by Suzy
Wedding Coordinator: Chill Weddings
Bridesmaid Dresses: Jim Hjelm (through Netbride)
Honeymoon: Paris, France and Munich, Germany
Invitation Printer: Vertallee Letterpress
Caterer: Toscana Catering

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The event design was heavily influenced by our modern tastes and the geeky nature of our venue. We tried to infuse the day with lots of unexpected details that maintained this modern, geeky theme and showcased what kind of couple we are. We also wanted the day to be special not only for us, but also for our family and friends by paying homage to traditions while revamping them to fit our needs.

We’re an interfaith couple, but my parents were pretty outspoken about us being married by a rabbi. We were okay with it as long as the rabbi respected both of us (we’re not particularly observant of either religion, but we do have strong, very similar faith, if that makes sense). Fortunately, Cory’s family was okay with it, too. After a very long search (I must have spoken to at least 20 rabbis who wouldn’t marry us for one reason or another), we finally found a wonderful rabbi who would customize our wedding specifically for us. It was a Jewish wedding, but had a non-traditional spin on things. Our ketubah was entirely in English, we asked our friends and family to write their own Seven Blessings on themes that fit us (like the importance of laughter, or having dogs in our lives) and read them during the ceremony, and we both stepped on the glass together.

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Right before the ceremony, when I saw the reception set up. It was like the vision in my head was actually translated into real life. It finally came together; all my hard work paid off! I was in tears when I saw it (happy tears, of course!).

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The Venue:

The museum was the perfect venue for us — the foyer where we were married was airy and full of natural light, the exhibits were interactive and nestled into nooks and crannies (which was great for setting up bars and stations for the cocktail hour), and the museum’s main exhibit hall was a neutral, blank slate that could be morphed into whatever we wanted. But being able to have a T-Rex and a polar bear at our wedding totally sealed the deal.

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The Food:

Our caterer was really wonderful, and let us completely customize our entire menu. I love cheese, so we had a cheese course in lieu of dessert. We love prosecco, so we had a prosecco bar during the cocktail hour, where guests could choose from a variety of prosecco-based drinks.

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And we live in Texas, so we decided to serve only Shiner beers in honor of our residential state.
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Cory loves popcorn as a late-night snack, so I surprised him late in the reception with a popcorn machine.

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Our cake was frosted in chocolate ganache. It wasn’t as smooth as fondant (though it was much tastier!), but it was smoother than buttercream.

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The Reception:

Since we were married in a museum, we had to rent everything from tables and chairs to a stove. Needing to rent everything seemed a bit overwhelming at first, but it was truly a blessing in disguise, as we were really able to customize every little detail.

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As a couple with contemporary, non-traditional tastes, when we saw a picture of long banquet tables, we were smitten. Squares became an easy way to carry out the modern vibe we were going for, and it allowed us to put weird twists on common items. In the wedding world, square cakes are pretty ubiquitous, but our guests went gaga over the novelty of it. We chose square rentals for our tabletop wherever we could — why have regular drinking glasses when we could have square-bottomed ones? Square vases? Square flatware? We’re in! Even the straight lines of the chiavari chairs fit in well. But I think (I hope) it served as a unifying design element, rather than square-overload.

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The Budget:

Although it was hard, our wedding came in (just barely!) under our budget, and many thought it cost much more than it actually did. ;) By prioritizing what was important to us and searching around for the best deal, we were able to spend frugally in some areas and splurge in others. It’s surprising how one vendor can charge X for something like letterpress or flowers or cake and another vendor will charge Y for the same exact thing. Looking around for the best price (without sacrificing quality, of course!) really saved us thousands in the end. Instead of paying a pretty penny for custom letterpress invitations, we designed our own wedding stationery and Vertallee Letterpress printed it for us at a very reasonable cost. We also saved some money by DIYing things like the chuppah roof, the menus, the programs, and the cookie bar (instead of buying them pre made); bringing in our own alcohol; and forgoing bridal party flowers, which freed up some moolah for fun things like a shuttle to and from the wedding from the hotel, lighting design, custom dinosaur drink stirrers from For Your Party, and a dendrobium orchid boutonniere for each guest.

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What were your favorite or most memorable aspects of your wedding day?

Obviously my favorite part of the day was the ceremony! I only remember snippets of it, but I remember how incredibly happy I was throughout the whole thing. I felt like giggling the whole time! (From what I do remember, I giggled a fair amount anyway.) After the ceremony, I’d have to say that I loved the hora. It was so wonderful to see our entire family and all of our friends lifting us up, both literally and metaphorically.

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Is there anything you would have done differently?

Tons! I didn’t realize that I could “pop the question” to my bridesmaids (when asking them to be in my wedding party); I’ve seen such cute ideas for that. And I love the idea of a bridesmaids lunch. I wish we could have squeezed that in, but the day was packed as it was.

If we had money in the budget, I would have hired a videographer. Though our photographers were wonderful, I only remember snippets of the day, and even if Cory and I are the only ones who watch it, I would love to have a real-time record of our wedding.

The biggest thing is that by the time that I had about a month left of planning, I just didn’t care anymore about planning — I wanted to be married! As such, I didn’t give some of the vendors as detailed and concrete guidelines as I had been earlier in the planning process, like telling the rabbi that I didn’t want to drink red wine during the ceremony (I didn’t want to spill on my dress!). While nothing disastrous happened (the dress was safe!), I shouldn’t have dropped the ball. It’s in my nature to care about the little things like that, and it bothered me for months after the wedding that an area wasn’t completely piped-and-draped, or that floralytes were in the cocktail hour centerpieces. (Silly, right?!)

Do you have any advice for future brides?

  1. People have plenty of ideas of what your wedding should be like. Listen to your instincts and your fiance (unless he wants something absolutely crazy, like a scantily-clad girl popping out of the wedding cake). You know what’s best for the two of you.
  2. Someone’s always going to think that an idea you love is tacky. Banish that word from your vocabulary. I was a much happier and less stressed person after I did.
  3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! My mom is the craftiest person I know, and for some reason, it didn’t occur to me to ask her for help with all of my DIY projects until very late in the process.
  4. And have FUN! You’re not a bride every day — enjoy it!

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All pictures are from Jeremy Evans Thomas or Mary Kate Burgess

Tags: |   Link for this post | Share this post: Real Weddings: Rebecca and Cory      
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39 Responses to “Real Weddings: Rebecca and Cory”

1.
LatteLove
Hostess
LatteLove (message)  4,029 posts, Honey bee

what a great location! I love the brown details.
(and the cookies look waaay too tempting.)

 
2.
september wedding
Member
september wedding (message)  113 posts, Blushing bee

Congrats! Everything looked beautiful and what an awesome and unique venue! I’m jealous!

 
3.
Mrs. Bird of Paradise
Bee
Mrs. Bird of Paradise (message)  295 posts, Helper bee

beautiful!! thanks so much for sharing it with us!

 
4.
Member Icon
Member
sc8493 (message)  324 posts, Helper bee

I think one word sums up your wedding…

AMAZING!!!!!!

Its looks like you had a BLAST!!!! Love the venue and the color schemes were beautiful!!!

 
5.
Mrs. Cupcake
Bee
Mrs. Cupcake (message)  1,159 posts, Bumble bee

Rebecca! So nice to see how all of your details came together. You look beautiful and it looks like a fantastic party. Thanks for sharing the details with us! :-)

 
6.
Bunny83
Member
Bunny83 (message)  123 posts, Blushing bee

Your wedding looked beautiful and your cake looked absolutely divine.

 
7.
lreighard1
Member
lreighard1 (message)  643 posts, Busy bee

delicious!!!

 
8.
Guest Icon
Guest
yelli

What a unique space for your reception, and I love how you played up the details like the dinosaurs and squares. And your food choices look great…

Beautiful!

 
9.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Quiche (message)  2,131 posts, Buzzing bee

Gorgeous!!

 
10.
Member Icon
Member
hamburgbride (message)  5 posts, Newbee

Your wedding looks absolutely FABULOUS!!! I was looking for a museum or gallery for my reception but couldn’t find one large enough.
Also love the “square” idea, seriously rethinking my round tables!!

 
11.
LzzNYC
Member
LzzNYC (message)  877 posts, Busy bee

Beautiful and sweet!

 
12.
El Capataz
Member
El Capataz (message)  270 posts, Helper bee

Please tell me you went to Oktoberfest in your honeymoon. Good timing!

 
13.
salex19
Member
salex19 (message)  162 posts, Blushing bee

#2 is great advice! Someone WILL think something is tacky- but who cares. Chances are they are the only person that will think that- and if you love it you should do it!

 
14.
Guest Icon
Guest
L

More real weddings!! So pretty!

 
15.
Guest Icon
Guest
bbexx

I’m a square lover too!

 
16.
MightySapphire
Hostess
MightySapphire (message)  2,608 posts, Sugar bee

I love the dinosaur stirrers! And having your wedding at a museum? AWESOME!

 
17.
Member Icon
Member
rebecca (message)  1,316 posts, Bumble bee

@El Capataz: Definitely. =)

 
18.
frenchbulldog
Bee
frenchbulldog (message)  5,956 posts, Bee Keeper

Wow what a beautiful wedding :) I love everything, especially your dress.

 
19.
Member Icon
Member
doublemint921 (message)  489 posts, Helper bee

Everything about your wedding is stunning! Thanks for sharing all your tips and photos! :)

 
20.
Member Icon
Member
tangt16 (message)  98 posts, Worker bee

You had two photographers? Wasn’t that expensive? I saw that katie wasn’t that cheap.

 
21.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Emerald (message)  900 posts, Busy bee

oh i adore those pleats on the dress! and i just want to dive right into that chocolate ganache cake…

 
22.
Guest Icon
Guest
Jeremy Evans Thomas

Hi Rebecca + Wedding Bee Community -

I’m so happy this wedding was featured; I’m the photographer, and had a great time shooting Becca + Cory’s wedding. The setting was truly unique and made my job so much more interesting! Everything was beautiful, stunningly presented, and dramatically lit.

tangt16 - just to answer your question - I hired Kate as a second photographer for part of the day, and she did a great job; a second shooter is standard in all of my packages. It’s not essential, but it is always nice to have the creative eye of another photographer, and someone to capture different angles and events going on concurrently.

 
23.
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Member
Jesso (message)  92 posts, Worker bee

beautiful!

 
24.
Member Icon
Member
jenwindy (message)  17 posts, Newbee

OMG, I love it. That’s my dress! I’ve never seen it on a real bride before. Love, love, love it!!!!

 
25.
Shay
Member
Shay (message)  438 posts, Helper bee

Wow! This location is amazing! I love all the brown and orange accents.

 
26.
harmonyeee
Member
harmonyeee (message)  201 posts, Helper bee

what a small world - i am getting marrid in philly in may and have booked jeremy evans thomas as our photographer AND mary elizabeth as our florist!!!

your photos and flowers look AMAZING so now im even more excited. beautiful wedding!

 
27.
Ruby Slippers
Member
Ruby Slippers (message)  472 posts, Helper bee

I love that you used that quote from The Princess Bride! And all your decor and style is adorable! Love it!

 
28.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Kitten (message)  690 posts, Busy bee

I love the princess bride quote too! I may have to borrow it! :)

 
29.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  1,704 posts, Bumble bee

beautiful, i love this new section!

once again, yaay Weddingbee :)

 
30.
Guest Icon
Guest
jessica

Really Cool and super wedding pics… Perfect wedding i guess.. wishing you best of luck in future.

 
31.
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Member
laurab12 (message)  41 posts, Newbee

Your wedding dress is stunning! and i love all the rustic colours you incorporated, really beautiful.

 
32.
bloo
Member
bloo (message)  72 posts, Worker bee

beautiful! i always love museum weddings =) what were the things in the envelopes? worked as a guestbook? great idea! =)

 
33.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Crab Cake (message)  816 posts, Busy bee

I love the venue! It’s so nice to see other receptions in museums!

 
34.
Guest Icon
Guest
Lauren

Jeremy was my photographer as well, and he did an absolutely phenomenal job! I hope you enjoy his work as much as I do!

 
35.
Member Icon
Member
Bizz1011 (message)  78 posts, Worker bee

Beautiful– what a great feature!

Is there a way for others to submit their own “real weddings”?

 
36.
purpleHaze79
Member
purpleHaze79 (message)  875 posts, Busy bee

Simply beautiful…. I’m in LOVE with all the details!! And the Princess Bride quote… Best. Movie. Ever.

 
37.
domesticandfabulous
Member
domesticandfabulous (message)  74 posts, Worker bee

Beautiful… I also love the Princess Bride reference :-)

 
38.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Pinot Noir (message)  771 posts, Busy bee

Wow. What a beautiful event!! I love the cookies with hershey kisses (my favorite kind!)

Mr. Pinot Noir wanted our officiant to start the service with “Mariage is what brings us together today!”

Thanks for sharing!

 
39.
Member Icon
Member
rebecca (message)  1,316 posts, Bumble bee

@bloo:Yep, that was our guestbook. I always feel a little self-conscious of what I write in guest books, so I thought it would be a bit more personal if the messages were hidden. I glued 4 envelopes to each page in a book made by Enjibeck on Etsy.

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

 


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