Terri and Erik's Rancho Bernardo Winery Wedding

Terri & Erik

Married on: September 18, 2009

Photographer: Acres Of Hope Photography

It all began with a Craigslist Post...

Which soon turned into LOVE...

Then the wedding invites were sent out...

She was just too beautiful... how could he resist!

Make Up: ACMakeUp

Hair: Beauty Ever After

They called the ones they loved and asked them to stand by them on their special day!

Meet the Bridesmaids:

and the Groomsmen:

It was a beautiful day...

The scene was set...
Venue: Rancho Bernardo Winery

The guys were ready!

This was TRUE LOVE!

They decided to begin in the journey of life together...

With each step she took in her Marc Jacob Heels (cute heart detailed peep toe and heel) she knew they were only getting closer to the adventure of a lifetime... Marriage!

They made it to their destination at the front of the alter and the butterflies flew away-

They said their vows, confessed their love, and he kissed his bride...

Musicians: Angelica Strings Entertainment

Let the Party Begin:

Reception and all of the beautiful details!!!

They used cigar boxes as vases and placed a wine bottle at each table as the table number and what a beautiful centerpiece they made.

Florist: Rae Florae

The Bride and Groom engraved their names and wedding date onto wooden fans and gave them out to all their guests to keep them cool on this warm September day.

This was the kids table... the perfect kids table- butcher paper substituted for a table cloth and there were crayons galore.. each child also got a bag full of goodies including: stickers, bubbles, small toys, etc. And instead of wine bottle centerpiece the kids got a Martinelli's bottle!

The tables were set to perfection.. black table cloths, wine colored napkins, cork coasters as favors, and the most beautiful and creative centerpieces.

The Bridal Bouquet- Just stunning. As an extra personal and special touch the bride added this stunning butterfly broach.

The cake was AMAZING- covered with cascading sugar butterflies...

Cake: Joanne Hansen (call Couture Events for contact info)

The couple asked for five minutes alone after the ceremony just to be together. This alone time was a beautiful thing and I believe more Brides and Grooms should take these five minutes in the midst of the hustle and bustle!

When Asked: YOUR MARRIED, Now What?

The Couple Replied, "DISNEY WORLD!!!! "

They were such a joy to work with- their amazing personalities shined!

First dance at dusk... just as the sun was setting!

DJ: Herbie Smith, Events By Design

Then they danced into the night and had their grand departure surrounded by friends and family and bubbles galore.

This is one of the most spectacular weddings I have done yet! There were so many amazing details about their wedding and I could not be happier for them! Such an awesome wedding day for an amazing couple...

Congrats Terri and Erik!!!

Love,

Krystel Tien

Thank-You Note Tip

A great way to stay organized and make writing thank-you notes easier is by keeping a list and writing down names while opening gifts. I found this idea to be really useful because who can remember every gift and who it is from! This also allows you to be specific and personal when writing them, which is nice touch and way to thank your guests.

Photo from myexpression.com

-Rebecca

Introducing Sharon & Casey

Tonight I had the privileged of meeting with Sharon and Casey (Bride & Groom) to go over all of the logistics of their Wedding Day. I am so excited about their vision, its going to be beautiful! Tonight was very productive, lots of decisions were made! Anyway I would like to introduce you to the newest Couture Couple: Sharon and Casey!!!!

Engagement Shoot:
They are having a backyard wedding in Jamul (my home town) so naturally they took their engagement photos out in the country too and I just had to share them with you. Their photographer is Erica from Acres of Hope Photography (side note: She is also from Jamul), one of my good friends and favorite photographers- You can see more photos on her blog here.

This couple is sooo cute and so much fun!

Sharon & Casey- Thanks for being so amazing!
~Krystel

Creative Guest Books!

I have recently attended a few weddings that have changed up the standard guest book and made it into something fun, unique and more reflective of their personal taste. I think this is such a great idea, and can be taken in so many creative directions!

One of my favorite new takes on the guest book that I came across is having each of your guests write their thoughts and wishes to you on a postcard that is addressed to your new address. Then after the wedding, having a friend mail them all to you, so when you return from your honeymoon, you and your husband have a mailbox full of love and memories to read.

Image By: Marthastewartweddings.com

Another idea that I thoughts was fun, was having colored cards and envelopes that each of your guests could write on. This allows your guests to become a bit more personal and sentimental.

Image By: Marthastewartweddings.com

Just remember that your guest book does not have to be in the form of an actual book. Try something new and do not be afraid to be different and personalize your guest book!

~Faith

Snapshot Table

Pictures are the best way to refresh the mind of cherished memories. I really like the idea of having cameras around the reception area for guests to take memorable pictures of themselves enjoying the wedding. These cameras can be put on each table or another great idea would be to have a “Snapshot Table” with different cameras on it. The Bride’s Café Blog has some DIY ways of creating this table.

photos from The Brides Cafe

It is so much fun for the bride and groom to look back at these pictures after the wedding and see how each and every guest shared their special day with them.

~Jenna

A Grand Entrance

A great way to instantly impress and visually stun your wedding guests is to make a beautiful grand entrance to your reception site. An idea that I love is to use flowers for this affect. A large archway covered in flowers is enchanting and welcoming. Or try hanging floral bouquets and garlands from the doorway or entryway. Also tents and linens create a lovely and comfortable atmosphere.

Photo from zephyrtents.com

-Rebecca

Patterns, Patterns, Patterns!

Image by: Brooke Schwab Photography

It is almost impossible to admit that solids are more fun than patterns! If you are still thinking about what you may want your wedding colors to be, think about adding patterns to the mix!

You can carry one pattern through your entire wedding, or try mixing and matching a few different ones. Patterns can give a wedding a fun, vintage, and unique look. There are so many different ways to do this! A big trend lately has been patterned bridesmaid dresses. They are so fresh and eye-catching.

I have also seen patterned table clothes, invitations, and cakes! Have fun with polka- dots, gingham, checkers, paisley, lace and many more. Patterns instantly brighten up a room and add a completely different element to the traditional wedding. This idea is stylish and a new way to introduce color and texture into your big day.