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Simple, pretty and personal, I love Anna’s home grown Real Wedding celebration.
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Anna writes:
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Jackson and I got married on May 30, 2009. I was a reluctant planner at first. Our first venue was a local restaurant that promptly went out of business. Luckily one of the other venues we considered had an
opening for the same day.
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I got involved in a wedding message board (see MakeUpAlley’s Wedding Board). The ladies online were so supportive, so interested in everything – I have to say I started thinking of projects just so I could take
pictures and share.
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Our ceremony and reception were at the Lake Temescal Beach House in Oakland, California. The building was built in 1940 by the WPA and has a bit of a log cabin feel. Lots of nature, very secluded!
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We had a late afternoon ceremony and evening reception with about 60 of our nearest and dearest. I wrote the ceremony, and it was short and sweet.
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My matron of honour was my best friend from high school and Jackson’s brother was his best man.
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Our good friend played violin for the processional and recessional – he learned a song from the movie Dr. Zhivago at my request. My grandparents had a music box that played the same song. My parents
walked me down the aisle, and another one of our good friends officiated.
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My dress was custom made by a dressmaker in Alaska (found via Etsy). A strapless dress with a sweetheart neckline, made of duchess satin. She made a teal petticoat and a matching teal sash.
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I pinned a dogwood brooch that belonged to my great-grandmother on the sash. I had a matching
necklace and earrings and faux dogwood flowers in my hair.
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I wore the same shoes my matron of honour wore for her wedding.
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My matron of honour made our bouquets from chrysanthemums. Our reception flowers were potted Osteospermums (African Daisies). The guests took them home at the end of the night.
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After the ceremony, we had a cocktail hour with tray passed appetizers. We set up a clothes line with pictures from our childhoods as well as our life together so far.
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Our favours were squares of Ghirardelli chocolate. Our food was from Wild Thyme Catering – we
had a buffet and the stuffed portobello mushrooms were the star, in my opin
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After a champagne toast and dinner, our first dance was to Greg Brown’s "Steady Love." We had a sound system and a laptop set up with our favourite songs.
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When it was time for the cake, we found our caterers had really outdone themselves! We had a lemon cake to cut and also a chocolate cake, a berry cobbler with fresh whipped cream, and an array of mini cheesecakes, eclairs, and cookies.
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In the end, I loved planning the wedding. I especially loved having everyone together to celebrate – our friends, my family, Jackson’s family – it was wonderful.
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Anna’s photographs are by Erez Avraham.
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Are you a crafty bride who has added a personal touch to her own Real Wedding?
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