Discover. Create.

A Los Gatos love-fest.  That’s what I am calling this stunning day captured by Tyler Branch Photo, because, well… it sooo is.  The perfect combination of nature-inspired details, laid-back elegance and beautiful cultural traditions, it’s a breathtaking Nestldown setting meets gorgeous florals from Lisa Jack Giudicelli meets sweet DIY details, all wrapped up in some of the brightest smiles you will ever see.  Care to join me for some stop-you-in-your-tracks lovely?  Click here for all of the pretty.

 

From the Bride… Our Indian – American fusion wedding ended up being the best day of our entire lives and we are so very thankful that we decided to have a wedding celebration.  It was quite the challenge trying to incorporate multiple cultures while still making it personal and meaningful to the both of us.  Taking the advice of many brides past, we compiled a list of what was really important to us: honoring our families and bringing them together, incorporating our cultures, being in nature and having a laid-back & fun atmosphere.  On top of that, we were really trying very hard to maintain a budget in the crazed Bay Area bridal industry.  After visiting quite a few venues, we stumbled across Nestldown and it was hands down unlike anything we had seen before.  This venue was a private residence in the Santa Cruz Mountains, an area where we love to hike, and the staff were the most helpful and positive people we had ever met.  This place hardly needed any dressing up, it was beautiful as is.

We took your average American “spiritual” ceremony and made it our own, adding advice from my Uncle (the officiant) and other family members, along with poems and a Unity Tree.  I grew up in the Midwest and Jimmy in Northern California; we both brought soil from the yards of our childhood homes and combined them together as we planted our unity tree during the ceremony to symbolize the coming together of our lives.  After the ceremony, we went out to the property’s orchards for some photos where we were greeted with the most red fall leaves we had ever seen!  It was truly magical.

We really wanted a laid-back environment where everyone felt comfortable and at home. We didn’t want everything to be matchy-matchy, yet wanted everything to go together. The bridesmaids picked out different cream colored, eclectic dresses from ModCloth and ASOS.  We tied their look together with bright orange shoes, sweaters, and Indian bangles.  Jimmy’s groomsmen had cufflinks featuring vintage maps of the towns where they were from, orange paisley ties, and orange socks.  

Our wedding came together because of two reasons: We had the best vendors, they were genuine people & fun to work with; and our family & friends helped out big time. Everyone chipped in and offered to play quite significant roles leading up to the big day.  A few pieces of advice, TAKE IT ALL IN on the wedding day (thats the biggest one), make sure to have moments alone with your hubby.  During the planning process, take advice from everyone, internalize it, then make it your own.  Don’t forget.. while it is an action packed, totally awesome day, it is just one day, put everything in perspective and have a blast!

Wedding Photography: Tyler Branch Photo | Wedding Venue: Nestldown in Los Gatos, California | Wedding Cinematography: Matt Moresco Productions | Floral Design: Lisa Jack Giudicelli (lajgiudicelli@gmail.com) | Event Planning: The Bride | Food Catering: The Mynt | Event Catering: Thomas John Events | Favors: Maritess Bandoy | Ceremony Violinists: Kieran & Lincoln Arora (Bride’s Cousins) | DJ: Woody from Big Fun DJ | Wedding Invitations + Stationery: Bride’s Sister | Wedding Dress: Jenny Packham via Nouvelle Vogue | Bride’s Sari: Artesia | Bride’s Jewelry: Amrita Singh | Henna: Henna Lounge | Bride’s Hairpiece: BLHDN | Bride’s Shoes: Kate Spade | Bridesmaids’ Attire: ModCloth + ASOS | Hair: Amanda from Trio Salon

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There are a few leading ladies in this Sausalito wedding captured by Lori Paladino Photography. One, being the glowing Bride and two, her entourage of beaaaUtiful blooms crafted by Flowergirl San Francisco along with gorgeous details to match by Be Hitched. It all makes for a celebration ripe with natural beauty in one of our favorite little spots tucked away in Northern California; the Headlands Center of the Arts. Have a look at the full gallery for so, so much more.

 

From the Bride…The best advice we got was from a dear friend who reminded us that we were planning for our marriage, not just a wedding. We want to build our marriage around family and community- to create a foundation of love from which to reach further out into the world. So we tried to remember that this day was not about us and what we wanted and how we thought it should be, but rather, was about the union of our lives, lives which would pale if not for all those supporting us on our journeys and which will fail without their help as we move ahead. We tried to concentrate more on making our family, friends, and guests feel welcome and special than on the cute factor. And it worked!

The creative process of working with Liz and Travis, Sue, Ira and John, Katie, Lori, Shari, Rebecca at be-hitched, and Spencer really was inspiring. Our moms each choose a reading which helped shape our ceremony. All of these visions helped create a moment that was its own creature-an effort of love by many. That being said, it was really easy to get caught up in anxiety that we weren’t attending to every detail, or that something wouldn’t look right or turn out as we’d hoped. As much inspiration as I got from awesome wedding blogs, I could also get pretty overwhelmed. The more we just surrendered to the way things were unfolding, or the way that seemed the simplest, the more beautiful things turned out and the happier we were as we planned (ie, I didn’t keep Adam awake all night with my head trips about place cards).

Our officiant Pat said something along the lines that the love from this one moment, this one day, would spill out into other people’s lives in unforeseen ways for a long time. And she was right. There was a powerful feeling of love and unity in the air the entire day and especially during the ceremony. It felt so much bigger than just me and Adam doing something that was all about us. It was a celebration of love of all kinds that we know will stay with everyone who was there for a long time.

More than any incredibly cute DIY favor we could have thought up, having this heart-set is what will make our wedding day so memorable and a touchstone when things get rough (as they will) in the years to come. We are so blessed to be surrounded by so much enthusiastic love. 

Photography: Lori Paladino Photography | Event Planning + Design: Rebecca, Be Hitched | Venue: Headlands Center of the Arts | Floral Design: Shari, Flowergirl San Francisco | Officiant: Pat Palmer | Caterer: Katie Powers Catering | Cake Artist: Comfort’s | DJ: Spencer Sutherland | Make-Up: Rebecca Horning | Hair: Amy Beno | Invitation Designer: Corey Dembitsky (coreynicolle@mac.com) | Wedding Dress: Atelieres des Modistes | Shoes: Kate Spade | Groom’s Ring + Cuff Link Designer: Mar-Chet Jewelers | Ring Bearer Ribbons: Britex

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Although I’ve been married for nearly two years, I still leaf through the virtual pages of SMP and swoon over the gorgeous gowns, dreaming of a someday vow renewal. And when I laid eyes on Aria’s 2013 Fall Collection, well, let’s just say it was love at first sight. Inspired by an iconic photograph taken in the 1960′s by the late photographer, Richard Avedon, this collection is clean, classic and understatedly elegant. Go ahead my dears, feast your eyes on all the Aria gorgeousness in the SMP Fashion Look Book!

Believing that a beautiful wedding gown should express and enhance the personality of the bride, Aria’s designer Tak Hau crafts gowns that highlight the beauty of the person wearing them. Made beautifully (in the USA, no less!) by seasoned tailors and seamstresses, each Aria dress is meticulously crafted from luxe fabrics and gorgeous materials such as re-embroidered lace, silk organza, English netting, feathers and silk crepe.  And the pretty party doesn’t stop at bridal gowns! Aria also designs amazing bridesmaid and flower girl dresses as well as maternity dresses and menswear! And all of the gorgeousness can be seen right here, in Aria’s Look Book!

So gorgeous, am I right? One is prettier than the next, I swear! And here’s where things get really exciting, because Aria is giving one lucky bride the chance to win up to six bridesmaids dresses for her ladies!

The Prize: One lucky reader will win a six bridesmaids dresses from Aria!

To Enter: Visit Aria’s website and pick out your favorite bridal or bridesmaid dress and then come back over here and comment on this post with the style name of your fav frock!

To Win: One winner will be selected at random and announced right here on June 7, 2013.

Terms & Conditions: Can all be found right here.  Good luck my dears! xoxo

Photo Credits: Todd Tyler Photography / Makeup Artist: Helena Pham

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