Images

Wedding Venue | Chaminade Resort and Spa

ALL THINGS WEDDINGS

Our beautiful wedding ceremony location! Once I visited I knew instantly that this is where I wanted to say “I Do”.

There were certain things that I knew I wanted in a wedding venue. First I wanted the venue as outdoors as possible. We got married in August so it’s still very warm at that time of year in California. His venue was great because the ceremony was under this beautiful floral arbor and then the cocktail hour was outdoors as well. The reception was technically indoors but we had access to the courtyard where the cocktail hour was held which was outdoors. The courtyard was just through a double set of doors so you could still see the dance floor even if you were outdoors enjoying the nice evening weather.

Wedding Venue: Chaminade Resort and Spa


Location: Santa Cruz, California

The second most important thing was obviously cost. This venue was a little more costly than my original budget BUT the wedding coordinator did everything she could to make my dream wedding happen. We had an alternative menu and I diy’d most of the decor so I was able to stay on budget. I also didn’t do any upgrades that were offered in the wedding packages mostly because I didn’t think they were necessary but to also stay on budget.

Those were really my only two top priorities. Location was important but most of our family and friends are local or within a couple hours so I knew Santa Cruz was already a good location. Santa Cruz also offers so much and since we got married on a Friday that gave our guests the opportunity to make a mini vacation out of the weekend.

The staff, resort amenities and accommodations, and our overall experience at Chaminade Resort and Spa was phenomenal. I would do this day 1000 times over if I could!

Photo Booth

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We hired Kawaii Foto to add a bit of fun to our wedding day!

They were super friendly and professional. They do all the set up (and they were so quick about it that I didn’t even realize it was actually all set up), and I love that before your event (during the planning phase) they work with you to personalize the booth to your needs. I highly recommend their services if you’re looking for a photo booth for your next event.

Photography: Danyelle Dee Photography

Do-It-Yourself | Wedding Favors

ALL THINGS WEDDINGS, Do-It-Yourself Wedding Projects

I’ve always thought that wedding favors were a nice touch to a wedding but also thought they were also a waste of money and time. Instead of giving a physical item to our guests we went with a sweet treat. 

“Love is Sweet. Enjoy this Treat.”

The cookie itself is a sugar cookie in the shape of a heart with a delicious frosting with our wedding date. They’re made by husbands aunt and they are seriously the most delicious cookies I’ve ever tasted! 

I purchased these transparent cookie bags from Amazon to place each cookie in. I love the frosted dots to give it a little something extra! These were approximately $11 for 100ct.

I also purchased these Avery labels from Amazon as well and followed the directions to print the design from Avery.com/print. These were the Avery 2.5″ round labels in kraft brown. These were $7.

All in all it was a relatively inexpensive wedding favor that our guests loved to munch on!

Super simple and inexpensive wedding favors, especially if you make the cookies yourself. Just pick your design, print, and stick to your bags. 

Photography: Danyelle Dee Photography

Table Setting

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My husband and I met at UC Berkeley where our colors were navy gold. It was only fitting that we did a navy gold theme but with a little twist of blush.

Our table linens were navy and our napkin linens were dusty rose. They were a little more on the pink side than I originally wanted but these were the linens available through the venue and I didn’t want to add an additional cost by renting something less pink so dusty rose we went with!

I spray painted terra cotta pots with gold spray paint which is way cheaper than buying official vases. 

A family friend did our floral arrangements (aren’t they gorgeous?!). Flowers were purchased at the San Francisco Flower Mart. 

The table provided enough contrast to have a moody setting without taking away the soft romantic vibe. 

Venue: Chaminade Resort and Spa

Photography: Danyelle Dee Photography

Do-It-Yourself Menu Cards

ALL THINGS WEDDINGS, Do-It-Yourself Wedding Projects

The wedding menu I created completely on my own! I searched Pinterest for free downloads but just couldn’t mind anything I truly liked. This was a combination of ideas which turned into my own creation. And if I may toot my own horn, but I think they turned out pretty decent. 

Our venue was Chaminade Resort and Spa in Santa Cruz, California. I absolutely loved the venue the second I saw it and knew this was where I wanted to get married. Unfortunately the catering cost per person was way over my budget. Luckily, the wedding planner worked with my now husband and I to create a delicious meal while also staying within our budget. 

Venue: Chaminade Resort and Spa

Photography: Danyelle Dee Photography

Wedding Detail Shots

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Thanks to our amazing photographer, Danyelle Dee Photography for capturing the most beautiful photos of our big day.

I wanted to share just a few detail photo shots that I thought were great for every bride to have taken to remember the little moments.

  • Photo Credits: Danyelle Dee Photography

Bridesmaid Shoutout

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Like most brides I completely fell in love with my wedding gown the second I put it on. It really was one of those moments where I just knew this was the one. But probably unlike most brides the day of my wedding I couldn’t wait to take my gown off after 5 minutes of it being on!

On the Tuesday before my Friday wedding I went to pick up my wedding dress from the seamstress. It fit perfectly. After a few adjustments I took my dress home so excited to actually wear it in just a few days later. When the moment finally came to put it on there was an immediate sense of something wrong.

I’m not sure what the seamstress did in the hour between trying it on and taking it home that Tuesday before but it somehow became tighter around the hips and the clasp in the back was put on backwards!

It took my entire bride tribe approximately 15 minutes to clasp my dress!

With the clasp being backwards that meant it was also tighter around the chest so I couldn’t sit upright. I always had to lean backwards or just stand throughout the night. It was also so right around the hips that I couldn’t use the restroom! My sweet cousin offered to hold a cup down there but even a cup couldn’t make it past my knees. Can you imagine not using the bathroom?! And I wasn’t about to take the dress completely off because it took 15 minutes to clasp it the first time.

So as much as I love my dress and love this picture, it’s funny that at this exact moment I was actually stressed and irritated that my seamstress messed up so badly!

Behind the Veil | Wedding Story

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My husbands mom never had a daughter of her own so once we got engaged she told me she is so excited to finally have a daughter. When it came time to plan our wedding she offered me this round box. I opened the box and it was a veil. Her veil that she wore 30 years ago. She said if I wanted I could wear it on my wedding day.

Since she got married in the 80’s, I showed the veil to my mother who is amazingly crafty and artistic and she was able to modernize the veil by taking off some floral beading to create a broach instead of a headband. The removed flower beading was put to good use. Take a look at husbands boutonniere on my previous post! My mother also added lace from her wedding dress that she also wore 30 years ago which added not just detail to the veil but a whole lot of symbolism. I was wearing 60 years of proof that a long and happy marriage can exist.

When people ask me what my favorite part about my wedding day the first thing I say is saying “I do” to the man of my dreams. The second would be to have worn a veil that meant a whole lot more than just enhancing my wedding dress.

Photography | Danyelle Dee Photography

Do-It-Yourself | Table Numbers

ALL THINGS WEDDINGS, Do-It-Yourself Wedding Projects

DIY Table Numbers 

  1. Purchase IKEA Tolsby frames $.99 each. 
  2. Using Silhouette Cameo 3, design the image you’d like to transfer onto the frame. I did “Table 1” in font Carolina Pro Black. This example shows gold foil vinyl but my finished product I ended up using white vinyl. 
  3. Print your favorite photos! 

 Tips

  1.  Flip your image horizontally on the Silhouette Cameo so when you transfer your image onto the frame the image is on the inside with the photo instead of on the outside where it could peel off.
  2. Spray paint the Tolsby frame to match your wedding color palette. 
  3. Add some ribbon to the base that matches your color theme if spray painting isn’t for you. 

 And that’s it! Quick, easy, and inexpensive table numbers for any occasion.