Weddingbee Blog

Kicking off the party right.

[Please ignore the plastic cups. The caterer provided the wrong ones. However, I didn’t end up caring much since most guests really didn’t notice, especially after a drink or two or more.]
Read more…

Venue
The Clarke Estate [Tamra Wilbur]
Highly Recommended
10211 Pioneer Blvd.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
562.868.3876
www.santafesprings.org/depts/history/Clark_estate.asp

As soon as I pulled up to this venue, I knew it was perfect for our wedding. The well-kept grounds, the charming courtyard, the splashes of red, all the bamboo, the Modern architecture, and the expansive outdoor areas met our aesthetic criteria.

Read more…

Things remained on the calmer side, at least to our knowledge, while it was still light out. How I love long, warm summer nights, and we had a wonderful one for the reception.

[Grand Entrance]

 
Read more…

I am interrupting the pro photo parade to bring you some info on some of my super fantastic vendors.

Videography
HD Invision [Robert Busch]
Highly Recommended
818.825.1054
info@hdinvision.com
www.hdinvision.com

Robert was very responsive, professional, and on top of follow-up from our intial contact. He arrived on time, decided to throw in a second shooter for the ceremony close to our wedding date when I sent him our ceremony setup in order to best capture everything, and was everywhere and very unobtrusive at the same time on our wedding day.
Read more…

[The Processional]

Waiting…

Read more…

I know most of you don’t care to see a million photos of us (again), our family, friends, and bridal party, but I wanted to show off the awesome shots our photographer got. Also, I love how our more formal portraits are posed yet still feel casual.

[The Bridal Party]

Read more…

Another quickie entry.  Michael Norwood and Travis Hoehne, who second shot for him, set the scene nicely.

Read more…

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor
[7] The Details: Food

[8] The Details: Ring Shots!

OK, I lied. ONE more [short] installment of a detail–our cool ring shots by Michael Norwood.

Read more…

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper
[6] The Details: Decor

Mmm…time for food. I am a sucker for delicious, beautifully presented food. However, with our modest budget and guest count, I had to find a caterer who made solid (if not crazy excellent) food for a decent price. We did it! We got all of the below food, all china/drinkware/flatware/linens rentals, some disposable ware (please feel free to clutch your pearls now), a few miscellaneous rentals (bar height tables for cocktail hour, a bar, etc.), cake cutting, champagne toast service (which we didn’t use), waitstaff, and bar staff for less than $50 a head. The food wasn’t uber gourmet and presentation was good but not wow. However, the food was fresh, good for mass-produced banquet food, service was excellent, and it was a really great value. I will post my caterer’s information and a full review soon.

Read more…

I know, I’ve been a bad, bad blogger.  I didn’t believe people when they said I would be so over wedding stuff once it was all said and done, but it’s funny how quickly and easily I got over the whole planning thing.  It helped that I had quite a few major life transitions I was putting off until after the wedding, and I tackled those projects head on as soon as we returned from our honeymoon.  Anyway, enough procrastinator excuses.  Onto the photos! 

Again, all photos are copyright M. Norwood Photography unless otherwise noted. Oh, and warning–this is a long one.

[6] The Details: Decor

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue
[5] The Details: Paper

[D.I.Y. Signs]

• 1/4″ thick masonite + scrap lumber signs cut + assembled for me by a carpenter friend.
• I printed the text on my inkjet, cut it out, and rubber cemented it on [for easy removal afterward].
• Simple, metal pails from ikea were filled with river rock as a “stand” for the signs.

[photos by our guests]
Read more…

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire
[4] The Details: The Venue 

[DIY Notes]

• Everything was DIY and printed on my inkjet printer.
• Designed using Adobe InDesign + Adobe Illustrator.
• Bright white card stock purchased from Kelly Paper. One ream of 11″x17″ lasted me for all of these projects and then some.

[Programs]

• 11×17 cardstock was cut down to 8.5″ x 11″ + fed through my printer.
• Each page was then scored + folded in half lengthwise.

Read more…

I just got a wedding inviation in the mail, and it got me all excited to attend our first wedding together as a married couple*.  I’m sentimental about random “firsts” as man and wife.  Some firsts I could care less about, and others penetrate my old, married hag heart and get me… right there.  Anyway, I love giving a creative gift, so I’ve already started scouring their registry and website for gift ideas.  I’ve found the “about the bride/groom/us” sections can give you some hints into what the couple might enjoy if you dare to give off registry and not cash.  Which then led me to think to share some of the more creative gifts we received from our awesome guests, since I’m sure most of us will be on the guest side at some point in our lives if we haven’t already. 

First, a bridal shower gift from a dear, old high school friend. Keep in mind that the “theme” was entertainment, guests were to bring a movie clip that they felt expressed and/or imparted some insight to the meaning of love and what makes marriage work, and finally shower us with gifts that would provide us entertainment as a couple.

The packaging:

Read more…

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire
[3] The Details: Bridal Party Attire

The Clarke Estate
Santa Fe Springs, California
Contact: Tamra Wilbur, 562.868.3876
A city-owned, historic estate designed by architect Irving Gill and completed in 1921.

Again, all photos copyright M. Norwood Photography unless otherwise noted.

[The Entrance]

[photos by my friends]

Read more…

OK, I lied.  Next up is the whole bridal party’s, including groom and groomsmen’s, attire. 

[1] The Details: Hair + Makeup
[2] The Details: Bride’s Attire

[The Bridesmaids]
Dress: Custom, based on Watters #7415
Custom made by Laura Bravo. Some process shots.
Fabric: Soft aqua silk dupioni + French blue silk dupioni purchased wholesale and gifted to me by work vendors.

Read more…

Whee!  More photos.  I promise the upcoming ones after this entry won’t focus on me as much.  Yeesh, I’m tired of looking at myself already.

In case you missed it, here are the photos I already posted:
[I] The Details: Hair + Makeup

I will post more in-depth vendor reviews eventually, but I won’t even list them in my entries unless I would recommend them. I was fortunate to have an awesome team of vendors who made our wedding day run smoothly, mostly stress-free, and beautiful! Please let them know I sent you when you contact them.

Again, all photos by M. Norwood Photography unless otherwise noted.

[The Dress]
Designer: Ulla-Maija
Style: Danielle (It’s like it was made for me!)
Purchased from: preownedweddingdresses.com

Read more…