The Devil is in the Details (So Is the Love)

Oh, look! Another post about the wedding! How fun for you all!

Why is she still beating this dead horse, you ask yourselves. Why, indeed. Because my one and only son had his one and only wedding this summer and we finally got the pictures back from the photographer, and, this is my blog so I do what I want (Grammarly absolutely lit up that sentence like the freaking Fourth of July, but I don't care; see above: I do what I want).

I also believe that the small details are what make a wedding truly unique; especially the details that have some special meaning to the couple. Shanti and the Man-Cub made sure to add tons of these details, and I feel like they deserve noting.

So, if wedding details are your jam, pull up a chair. If not, feel free to peace out. No hard feelings, and away we go! 

To begin, I'm simply delighted the photographer captured some pictures of the flower arch that Shanti and I spent hours constructing; it was truly a labor of love and deserved to be immortalized in photos. It also now resides in my attic, in case anyone is interested in purchasing it for an upcoming wedding. Just saying.

The ceremony space was also a labor of love; Shanti's father spent months grooming the grass and trimming the trees to make it perfect. The wedding party then spent hours on the set-up the night before the wedding; hauling and arranging chairs, and "planting" faux flowers to create the aisle of Shanti's dreams.

The end chair on each aisle got a small bag or cup of dried flowers and rose petals; saved from every bouquet of flowers the Cub gave Shanti throughout their four-year relationship. The guest at the end of each aisle got the honor of dropping the petals on the ground in front of Shanti and her father as they walked down the aisle.

 

The kids didn't want a traditional, elaborately decorated wedding cake, but instead opted for one of the two-tiered "naked" cakes that are so in vogue right now. They also rejected the idea of a traditional cake topper and instead popped small Polaroids of each other that were snapped by the bridesmaids and groomsmen as they got ready that morning. 

The backdrop for the cake table included one of my personal favorite wedding details: it was a banner with bible verse 1: Corinthians 13: 4-8. Hugh's sister read the verse at our wedding 31 years ago and I love that it was included in such a unique way at our son's wedding.

The other decor on the cake table included some of the milk glass vases that Shanti's mom and I collected, filled with flowers that the bridesmaids, Shanti's mom and cousins, Shanti, Mom, and I cut at the flower farm in Pixler a few days before the wedding (I did a whole post on that back in August).

There were also a handful of seashells that Shanti and the Man-Cub collected while they lived in Hawaii, as well as while they were in the Dominican Republic, which is where they got engaged last November.

The reception decor included more personal touches that really spoke to who Shanti and the Cub are as a couple, including several framed photos of the two, taken during their many travels and adventures together, as well as even more of the milk glass vases and vessels that Shanti has come to love.

Another favorite touch was the audio guest book that took the place of a traditional guest book. Instead of a list of names on lined pages, Shanti and the Cub got voicemail messages from their friends and loved ones. They've truly enjoyed playing those messages back since the wedding and would definitely recommend this service to other couples. Plus, they got to keep the phone.

In addition to the cake, the kids decided to serve both cupcakes and, with Shanti's mom in mind, a gluten-free cookie option. This dessert table was a cute side display that both looked and tasted good.

Plus, it gave the chocolate cake lovers among us an option for dessert.

And, yes, the table featured even more milk glass vases; Shanti's mom and I really understood our assignment.

Everyone knows that the food can make, or break, a wedding reception. It is easily one of the most expensive items on a wedding budget, as well. The kids wanted good food that people would enjoy, without us going broke, paying for it. So, they chose to do a taco bar, and, luckily, Shanti's cousin offered to cater.

My favorite personal touches of the day include the Converse sneakers that I embroidered for the kids, and the adorable socks that they chose to pair with them; the "hands" were magnetized and would grab each other when the kids stood side by side.

I also love the thought that went into the kids' wedding rings. The Cub designed Shanti's engagement ring and wedding band, making sure to include opals, which are her favorite, and the Man-Cub's wedding band, which features an enameled inlay made with crushed seashells that he and Shanti beachcombed for in Hawaii.

 

And, since pearls are my own personal favorite (especially for weddings); I love the detail shot that the photographer took of Shanti's pearl earrings.

To round things out, let's show some appreciation for the gorgeous bouquet that my favorite local florist put together for Shanti. Shanti chose not to throw it at the reception, instead gifting it to her mom, which I thought was just the sweetest thing, ever.

And, on the topic of flowers, we gifted the guests with a wildflower seed party favor that they can plant next spring for their own flower garden.

 

And, to end what has become a really long, picture-heavy post (I told you to pull up a chair if you were sticking around), how about a round of applause for the classic car that Oscar borrowed for the kids to make their getaway in at the end of the evening? My only regret is that the photographer missed the opportunity to take some of the kids' portraits on, or in, the car.

There's always their first anniversary, right?

Wait, that's actually a really great idea! I bet we could borrow the car for an anniversary photo shoot! Excuse me while I get Oscar on the line...