Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
After getting a nice moment alone during our first look, we rallied the troops for some bridal party portraits. Literally.
As you may recall, I really wanted a saber arch for our wedding, but we were worried that we wouldn’t be able to have one due to the fact that servicemembers are overseas so much. Luckily, several of Mr. Jelly’s Air Force buddies, as well as his Marine brother, came out from all across the country for our wedding and made it happen. Love these guys!
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
Early on in the wedding-planning process, Mr. Jelly and I decided that we were going to do a “first look.” Neither one of us is very superstitious, we didn’t want to miss our cocktail hour, and we thought that seeing each other pre-ceremony would be a great way to shake off those wedding day nerves.
Right before we went outside to do the first look, our photographer, Cliff, asked me how I wanted to set it up. Me waiting, and Mr. Jelly walking up behind me, or the other way around? Quite honestly, I was caught off guard by this question. I hadn’t really given it any thought, and I had major bride brain going on so I asked Cliff what he thought was best. He suggested the me waiting, Mr. Jelly walking up to me setup, because it wouldn’t require me to move around in my dress. This made sense to me, so I went with it. It was only later that I realized that probably 90% of couples do it the other way around, because—duh!—the bride’s whole ensemble remains a surprise when she walks up to the groom. In our case, Mr. Jelly already saw the back of my dress before he saw me. Now, before you think that I’m complaining, I’m not—I really love our first look pictures, and I also love that they’re a little more unique. I just wish I’d given a little more thought to our setup before the actual wedding day.
Anyway, enough rambling…on to the photos! Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
My bridesmaids and I arrived at the venue around 2 PM, three hours before our ceremony start time. This would give us time to take our first look and group photos before the ceremony. And since our venue has a special room for the brides to get ready in, I decided to get dressed there. Upon arriving, we were greeted by our fabulous photographer, Cliff Brunk.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
After sneaking back to my room around 7:30 AM, I managed to get a just few more minutes of shut-eye before our awesome hair and makeup team, Exquisite Faces, arrived at 8. My bridesmaids joined me in the bridal suite and we chatted, read gossip magazines, and snacked on breakfast foods while they all got their hair done.
I shamelessly copied the design of this sign from our very own Mrs. Coconut—right down to the stickers. What can I say? Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
OK, I know what you might be thinking: Jelly, you’ve done 4 recap posts already, and we haven’t even gotten to the wedding day yet! Fear not, because we’re almost there! But before I get to the wedding day, I have a few more things to say about the night before the wedding.
Our Bocce Welcome Dinner ended at 8:30, so we went back to the hotel where Mr. Jelly and I practiced our first dance one last time, in front of my MOH. After getting rave reviews from her, we decided to call it a night and go our separate ways. One of Mr. Jelly’s Air Force buddies knows the owner of a local batting cage, so he and his friends grabbed some beers and headed to the batting cages after-hours to hit some baseballs.
Mr. Jelly’s night-before-the-wedding activity.
Meanwhile, back at the hotel, I met up with my several of my friends and bridesmaids for a little partying of my own—Das Boot style!
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
[Because "baci e abbracci" means "kisses and hugs" in Italian, and we had our rehearsal dinner at an Italian restaurant with Bocce courts, I figured "bocce e abbracci" would be appropriate. Get it? Get it!?!? I never get tired of puns.]
After making a splash at our mid-day rehearsal BBQ, we hurried back to the hotel to get ready for our welcome dinner at Campo di Bocce. Where we kept our rehearsal BBQ intimate by inviting mostly family and bridal party members, we invited all of our out-of-town guests to the welcome dinner—we ended up with 73 guests!!
We set it up so that the first hour and a half was bocce play time and court-side appetizers, followed by an hour and a half of seated dinner in the outside courtyard. I had been worried that not a lot of people would play bocce, but to my happy surprise, everyone got really into it! Read more…
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
This is the poem I wrote about being a two-dress bride. I know a lot of brides go through the experience of purchasing a dress and then having regrets, and some aren’t able to overcome that regret until they buy their 2nd (or 3rd) dress. I was a little embarrassed about my dress indecision and thought that a lighthearted poem would be the best way to address it while laughing at myself. And I gotta say, I’m pretty proud of my rhyming skillz, too.
~~~
Once upon a time, there was a newly engaged gal,
Who was so very excited, she called all her pals,
“I’m off to look at dresses!” she shrieked with glee
Her friends thought, “’wow that’s early,’ but couldn’t disagree.
So one Saturday morning, she went to the shop
Tried a handful of dresses – that’s where she should have stopped.
But she was so excited, she bought one on the spot
Her mother, aunt and bridesmaid all assured her she looked hot.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
Last we left off, it was noon and we had just finished our rehearsal, but our welcome dinner wasn’t until 5:30 p.m. We didn’t want our out-of-town bridal party to have to sit around in their hotel rooms with nothing to do, so we planned a casual rehearsal BBQ/pool party at Mr. Jelly’s parents’ house for the in-between time. But first, Mr. Jelly handed out his bridal-party gifts: personalized Rawlings baseball bats. Each bat had the guy’s name and title and our wedding date. The guys loved them (and even got to use them later that night)!
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
On Saturday morning, I woke up feeling excited. After 19 months of planning, our wedding weekend was finally here. I sat down and wrote my farewell post, and then we headed off to Pleasanton for the wedding rehearsal. Because there was another wedding happening that night, we had to have our wedding rehearsal somewhat early, at 11 AM the day before the wedding.
As we pulled into the Casa Real parking lot, we could see all our closest family and friends there, waiting for us. I think that was the first time I experienced the feeling that I’d continue experiencing throughout the wedding weekend, that “OMG, I can’t believe all these people are here for us” feeling. It’s an amazing feeling.
Arriving at the venue with boxes full of DIY goodness. This was my first time seeing my MOH, who had come out all the way from Romania to be there for the wedding.
We dropped off the boxes of DIY projects and decor with our DOC and I got straight to business, handing out the info sheets I’d printed out the night before to all of our bridal party.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
[This post is kinda long, and relatively picture-less, so I apologize in advance. It won’t happen again, I promise.]
The week before our winery wedding managed to be fairly stress-free, in large part because Mr. Jelly made me pinky swear promise to finish all of our DIY projects the Wednesday before the wedding, and not add any more. This was easier said than done (my request for last-minute bottle labels got denied), but I kept to my promise and we finished all of our lingering DIY projects on Wednesday. Here is what the rest of the week looked like:
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
On Saturday night, I had the honor of attending the wedding of my twin. My wedding twin, that is. As you may recall, Jenn and I met through our mutual friend and my bridesmaid, E, and we quickly bonded over having weddings at the same venue. Throughout the wedding planning process, Jenn and I relied on each other for ideas, inspiration, and advice. Although she wasn’t able to make it to my wedding, luckily I was able to make it to hers—with Mr. Jelly in tow!
In the same courtyard where we said “I do” almost exactly 2 months before.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
After 3 beautiful, sunny days in Moorea, we headed back to the airport to go to our next stop: Bora Bora, where we would spend the remaining week of our trip.
Upon arriving at Le Meridien Bora Bora. Note the ominous sky in the background – a sign of things to come.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
Mr. Jelly and I both wanted to honeymoon somewhere tropical, where we could really sit back, relax, and not worry about a thing. With its clear blue waters and iconic over-water bungalows, French Polynesia fit the bill perfectly. We left for our honeymoon two days after our wedding, which was great because it gave us a day to unwind, open gifts and pack before embarking on the trip. Our honeymoon itinerary was remarkably similar to Mrs. Lobster’s: several days on the island of Moorea followed by a week on Bora Bora.
Prior to our honeymoon, I didn’t really know anything about French Polynesia - only that it’s a popular honeymoon destination with over-water bungalows. I soon learned that French Polynesia, which is located about 2,700 miles south of Hawaii, is comprised of several islands, including Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora. Tahiti is the largest island and the site of the main airport, and Moorea and Bora Bora are smaller islands that are a short ferry or plane ride from Tahiti.
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
In the past when I’d hear people say their wedding day was the best day of their lives, I thought it was kind of bullshit. I mean, how could one day, with so much stress, work and different variables associated with it, be the best day of your life? There’s so much pressure, and things are bound to go wrong…right?
Things are especially bound to go wrong if you are the type of person who sweats the small stuff. And believe me, I am master of sweating the small stuff. But in the week leading up to the wedding day, something happened. I made a conscious decision that I was going to do everything in my power to have the best day of my life. I knew I wouldn’t be able to control the uncontrollable—but I would be able to control myself and how I reacted to things. So I made some goals for my wedding day:
1. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Have Fun!
This was my biggest goal and I’m happy to say it was a success!
Mrs. Jellyfish, Pleasanton, CAAge and Occupation: 27, Law StudentFiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Air Force PilotEngagement Date: February 21, 2009Wedding Date: September 2010Venue: Casa Real at Ruby Hill WineryAbout Me: In a nutshell, I’m the most optimistic worrywart you’ll ever meet. My family emigrated from Romania to San Jose, CA when I was 8, and I've been a Nor Cal girl ever since! My fiancé is also a Bay Area native, so it’s funny that we met at UCLA, as college freshmen living on the same floor (go Bruins!). Between his career as an Air Force pilot and my path to becoming a lawyer, our relationship has been anything but typical. We currently live together in Berkeley with our puppy Stinson. In addition to spending time with the loves of my life, I enjoy crafting, attempting complicated recipes, environmental law and non-law school reading (Us Weekly, anyone?). Follow along as I plan an elegant 200-person winery wedding, graduate law school, take the Bar exam, get married and get used to the always unpredictable but never boring life of a military spouse!
Unique Wedding Favors
