A New Fangled Problem With A Old Fashioned Solution?

I'm not changing my name after our wedding (I asked David very nicely if he would like to change his, and thus far he has said no. Hence, un-matching names.) These days, with the variety of name options available, I suspect wedding guests want to know what name you are going with, and we'd like a more formal way to tell them then word of mouth.

So, what to do? The best solution I've heard is to include the very old fashioned "At Home" cards with our invitation. These cards were once used to formally announce the newlyweds address and the date they would be taking up residence, so you could drop by for a spot of tea, or send a letter. These days, with the addition of the couples names, they can be a great way to let people know what the heck you will be going by. Ours would read something like this:

Ms. Meg Herlastname
Mr. David Hislastname
will be at home
after September first
123 Union Street
San Francisco, CA

We'd include these cards with our wedding invitations. They are adorable and old fashioned, and have the extra practicality of being small enough to stick in your address book or rolodex for future reference. Another benefit? These might prompt people to stop by for that spot of tea! Thus far this is the best, and most practical idea I've heard. Does anyone else have other tips and ideas to save well meaning family and friends from wild name confusion? What do you think of At Home Cards?

The cards might look something like these from The Mandate Press, Via Mighty Goods

Beirne & Adam's Vermont Camp Wedding

You know how every single week I have a new favorite wedding? Riiiggghhhtttt. Well, welcome to my new favorite. Bernie wrote me a sweet email about how my blog and her wedding style totally mesh, and heck yes they do! This wedding isn't about the detail shots, or the favors, or the monogrammed aisle runner. This wedding is about wanting to leap through the screen of your computer so you can BE THERE, celebrating with them, right now.

And for all you planning couples out there, Bernie wrote that it was a long hard slog to figure out how to do a wedding that was totally "them," but, boy did they ever. Which is to say, we all can do this thing! They did this whole fabulous wedding for $6,000, including renting a summer camp in Vermont for a whole weekend, so their friends and family could stay and hang out for FREE! What was the magic cost saving secret? Lots of hard work and research, of course, but also having family and friends pitch in and help with everything.
Their friends made the wedding cake, took the photos, and helped them decorate with farmers market flowers and fairy lights.
Bernie and Adam met as rock climbing instructors, and they wanted to have a wedding that really reflected who they were, their personalities, priorities, and values, which clearly included having a bunch of fun. The morning of their wedding everyone gathered to play croquet and bocce, and the couple encouraged people to wear old bridesmaid dresses, old prom dresses, or generally ridiculous outfits. That's the bride in pink!
And here are the bride and the groom dancing.
Then the bride and the groom changed into wedding attire and headed down to the waterfront for the wedding.
You know how you're suppose to give your photographer a shot list? Now I'm considering adding "David eating Meg's nose" to ours.

Their rings were made by a friend of the family, Fire & Metal Jewelers, and I'm in love with them. The line on the rings is the outline of a mountain range that they hiked together.
Bernie and Adam were married in a Quaker ceremony. Afterwards, in keeping with the Quaker tradition, everyone present signed the marriage certificate, signifying their support for the marriage.
And then they partied long into the night. Which is my idea of happily ever after.

Photos By Kristine Larson

Jessamyn Harris Photography: Same Sex Wedding Photography Giveaway

To celebrate the California Supreme Court Ruling on gay marriage, Jessamyn Harris is giving away free wedding photography for a same sex wedding taking place at San Francisco or Santa Rosa City hall this summer. Above a photo of Jessamyn's wedding at San Francisco City Hall, so you can see why she's so excited about this! Check out her website to find out all the details, and please email this around to anyone you know who might be interested. Jessamyn will pick the couple who's story captures her imagination the most. I can't wait to see the pictures!

Remembering What It's All About

So, as you all know, gay marriages were legally performed in California for the first time this week (hooray!) David and I went down to City Hall on the very first day to cheer the happy couples, and it is something I will remember forever. Watching couples who have been together for years finally get the legal right of marriage was such a important reminder of what all this wedding stuff is about. It's not about our colors, or our favors, or the big party, or even about the beautiful dress. It's about the privilege of pledging to share your life with someone.
We watched a young lesbian couple in full wedding dress do a celebratory waltz across the steps of city hall. We watched two dads hold up their marriage certificate as they balanced their sons on their hips. We watched two 70 year old woman walk with quiet dignity out of the doors. And we watched these two adorable men bounce out of city hall grinning from ear to ear.
This is what it's all about. Sharing our lives with each other. Making a new family together. And on Tuesday night, David and I were shown how it was done.
The world is changing, and it's such a honor and a privilege to be here as it does. Hooray for marriage!

Pictures via The New York Times, and SFGate

Budget Wedding Myths: The Bridal Party

While we are on the topic of budget wedding tips that are not super helpful, lets talk about another common one: “A good way to cut back on the cost of your wedding is to cut the size of your bridal party, since a major hidden cost of weddings is the bridal party gifts.” Now, we are not having a large bridal party, and I know that lots of you are not choosing to have a bridal party at all. But! If you want to have your friends standing up with you on your wedding day, you should be able to have that, even if you don’t have a big budget.

I’m not sure when we all decided that it was mandatory to give expensive bridal party gifts, but it's silly. Can you imagine if one of your best friends were getting married, and you found out she hadn’t asked you to be a bridesmaid because she felt she couldn’t afford to give you a nice enough gift? Right. Because being a bridesmaid is clearly something you do because you’re hoping for a big payoff.

So, with that in mind, I thought I would draw up a short list of what I think are the best possible gifts you can give a attendant, or anyone who helped you and supported you during your wedding.

1. Let the girls wear their own dress! Let the guys wear their own suits! That sh*t is a PRESENT. If you want everyone to match, give the girls their dress as a present, and give the guys a nice tie, or pay for their tux rental.
2. Don't make them pay travel all over the country/world/universe for your bachelorette party in Vegas/Italy/Mars. Again, that in itself, is a present.
2. Write your attendants a letter, telling them how much they mean to you. Awww….
3. Give everyone a nice picture frame, and when you get your pictures back, give them a picture of the two of you on your wedding day. Really, that is all I want when I’m in a wedding. Access to the cache of professional pictures.
4. Pick up something for them on your honeymoon, if you are taking one. It doesn’t have to be expensive. They’ll appreciate knowing you were thinking about them at that truck stop in Idaho.
5. And of course, you can always buy indie. Check out One Small Star’s excellent gift guide here.

What are you guys giving your attendants/ wedding helpers? I mean *other* then the diamond and ruby tiara from Tiffany's. Obviously. What gifts would you want as a attendant/ wedding helper?

Photo via MaggieMacPhoto's Flickr stream

Thank You, and Welcome!

A big thank you to Elizabeth Ann Designs for featuring A Practical Wedding as blog of the week (and for calling me hilarious. I mean, we all know I'm honest, but hilarious might be up for debate.) Also, welcome to new readers, come join the party!

If you don't read Elizabeth Ann Designs (which is probably impossible in the wedding blog world), you must check them out. They are doing purple week this week, and anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE all things sparkly and purple, and that David is just not going to let that fly at our wedding. I suggested a sparkly purple tux and everything, and he told me to put down the d*mn Martha Stewart, and snap back to reality.

Sigh.

Awesome inspiration board via Elizabeth Ann Designs, of course. I'm re-tiling the bathroom to look like this and buying the dress NOW! Swoon.

A Simple Bodega Bay Wedding

A while back, I sent Kathryn of Snippet and Ink a picture from this wedding for her week of Beach Wedding inspiration boards, and she used it on a stunning Northern California beach board. But this wedding just wouldn't stop haunting me, with it's striking Northern California beauty, it's quirky style, and it's simple joy. So I decided I had to share this Bodega Bay wedding, as photographed by the talented Jude Mooney.
This bride clearly had her own personal style, and I love that you can see it in the way she dressed, and the flowers that she held. Sometimes I think that wedding dresses can serve to muffle your inner sass, and wrap you up in the perfect bridal package, but that is so not going on here!
One of the things that I love best about small simple weddings, is that the focus is put back where it belongs. A wedding is, in essence, a sacred ceremony followed by a celebratory party, and when you strip back all the details and extras, that is what you see.
I love that giddy joy when couples are walking back down the aisle, newly married.
This is one of my new favorite wedding pictures. I walk on San Francisco beaches every day, and they have a rugged charm that is all their own. By not dressing up the ceremony site, they let the natural beauty shine right through.
Joy... both the best wedding makeup, and all you really need.
The simple beach ceremony was followed by a celebratory restaurant dinner. That gives you the feeling of being in Tuscany sharing wine and good food with family and friends.

This wedding is magic to me. The pictures capture exactly what we want: to be ourselves, to be with our loved ones, to have a simple and sacred ceremony, and then to eat and toast with much laughter and mirth.

The rest is really just details.

**Update: So I'm sure you're not going to be shocked by this info, since cool couples often roll like this, but the bride made her awesome dress right before the wedding, and the groom found his suit in a thrift store. Thanks to Jude for the info. Northern CA brides, check her out!**

Budget Wedding Myths: The Guest List

When you are trying to plan a wedding and stay on *any* sort of budget, you end up paying really close attention to budget wedding planning tips. Sadly, lots of the tips that get passed around are not super helpful. The tip you hear most often is that the first thing a budget bride should do is cut down her guest list. Now, if you and your partner want a small ceremony and reception, this is great advice, because it’s the easiest way to make your wedding affordable. That said, if you have a big group of family and friends you want to celebrate with, this advice is enough to make you tear your hair out. You can’t invite your Great Aunt Sue because you don’t have a lot of cash? No fair! To you or Aunt Sue! More then a few tears have been shed over this nugget of budget advice, believe you me.

So, I’m going to step in, and say that there is another way. Miss Manners, she of the wise advice, has ruled that we should first think about who needs to be at the wedding, and then think about what we can afford to feed them. Hear, hear! No matter what you might think from reading some of the wedding glossies, it is not rude if you fail to serve your guests fillet mignon and shrimp. It’s not even impolite if you don’t serve your guests a meal at all. The old fashioned wedding, after all, involved punch and cake on the church lawn, and punch and cake is still a proper way to go (with or without the church).

When I was eight, I was a flower girl in a wedding cake and punch wedding, and it was great fun. The church in question had a large lawn, light appetizers were served, along with mounds of cake and cookies. The kids all had punch, and the adults had champagne. I remember loving it (Hello? Punch + Cake + Pretty Dress + Game of Tag = Best Wedding Ever) and the adults had a grand time chatting and drinking. The bride’s brother played his bagpipes for the end of the service, and the highlight of the party was when the bagpiper started up the pipes, the brides sisters jumped up, grabbed the bride, and they all three performed a lively impromptu Scottish jig on the middle of the lawn, in full wedding garb. That will be one of the wedding moments I remember that for the rest of my life, and it was free.

So. I don’t care what all the budget wedding guides say, you can stay within your budget, invite all your loved ones, and still have a memorable (and stylish) time. And you will still think back on your wedding 50 years hence and get misty.

**Update: with awesome blogging synergy, it just so happens that Kathryn of Snippet and Ink posted a Punchy Luncheon inspiration board today! You can see a previous punch and cake inspiration board as well, both proving that you can do this with great style.**

Picture via Myrtle & Marjoram Photography (Thanks Kathryn!)

Dress Shopping, The Lovely Edition

There haven't been many updates of late about the Practical Wedding itself, but that's just because when you are 16 months away from your wedding most news days are slow news days. And too much of us is tres boring, no? But, this weekend, I went wedding dress shopping with two of my girlfriends, and it was so much fun that I had to fill you in on the details.

We started with brunch at Brenda's French Soul Food, which was indescribably tasty. Always fatten yourself up before dress shopping, I say. Next, we decided the easiest way to get where we were going was by cable car, so on we hopped. The cable car trundled it's way up the hill, right past Grace Cathedral, where my parents got married 33 years ago. I got a little teary then, for the only time that day.

Our appointment was at a high end dress shop with a huge selection. It was filled with dresses I couldn't/wouldn't afford, but I was getting desperate. I hadn't seen a single dress that I was even vaguely willing to consider, and without some real ideas, it seemed impossible to even think about getting a dress made, or visualizing it into existence, or whatever the game plan is.

I ended up with the worlds nicest helper. When I told her I didn't care about prices since I was just getting ideas, not buying, she actually clapped and hopped up and down. Off she tore to the vault o' bride, from whence she emerged with at least 10 dresses. I've heard a lot of brides say they went into the shopping experience with firm ideas, and came out with a different dress. But stubborn me? Nope. Everyone thought my idea of long and lace was a little dubious and possibly old fashioned, until I put one on. And then, happiness and joy! Long and lace was lovely! Of course it was $5K, so did not buy it, but at least I know what I like (though retro dress shopping approaches apace!)

Funniest moment of the day? Me standing in front of a mirror in a ginormous wedding dress with a long train, a cathedral length veil, and some fake flowers.

Girlfriend: (teary)
Me: Huh.
Girlfriend: Oh, if only David could see you now!
Me: I think he'd say that this was a little bit much.
Girlfriend: God, remind me not to marry someone that cynical. I need some romance.

Now a sneak peek of the dress that cost too much, with the train that I am to clumsy to have:

Happy Gay Marriage Day, California!!

Today is a historic day here in California. Today, for the first time, gay weddings will be performed across the state legally. There are few things I believe more strongly in then the universal right of people who love and are committed to each other to have all of the rights and privileges of marriage. This is truly the civil rights issue of our time. I could not be more proud to be a native Californian today.

I'll see you at City Hall. I'll be the one cheering and in tears.

Picture via Vassar Alumnae Quarterly

Non Matching Bridesmaid Dresses

While we are talking about wedding colors, lets talk about bridesmaid dresses.
Full disclosure: When I was 21 I wore a David's Bridal ball gown bridesmaid dress, and I totally loved it. When do you get to wear a ball gown these days? I didn't want to take it off! But, now that we are not 21 anymore, and the price of all things wedding related has gone through the roof, I tend to think bridesmaids dresses are the worlds biggest scam. The prices are insane, the fabric is awful, the construction is poor, and no matter what anyone says, you are not wearing it again. And why do people buy into this? Perfect color matching. That's right. You can order your bridesmaids gowns in any of 100 colors, for the more perfect coordination of your day. (And if you are doing this, just remember, I loved my bridesmaid dress, so I am clearly a poor illustration of my own point. Go you!)
So I started looking around for dresses I liked, that were in jewel tones, and I found some dresses that I *loved.* Like the dress above. I want to wear that dress every day for a week. Sadly, it would cost me $250. But it made me think. Why the heck are bridesmaid dresses always solid colors? I know, I know. So they match. And don't clash. But I have already proven I, um, a little unfocused in the matching department. So, I'm thinking just asking our attendants to get dresses they actually like, and would actually wear again in, jewel tones. I love all the dresses pictured here, but I'm not sure our wedding party would like them, or find them flattering, and who am I to make them wear them?

What are you thinking of doing on the female attendant clothing front? (We are, by the way, putting the cart before the horse here, since we haven't really figured out the wedding party thing. But the dresses are so pretty....)

**Update: I forgot to mention, this gives people flexibility on price, with no pressure. I have friends that would prefer BCBG, and friends that are more into Target. So often weddings put people in awkward money situations, which sucks. If we can't buy everyones flight, at least we can find small ways to help, right?**

Top picture via Nibs, Bottom picture via Nordstroms.
(Funny story, I went to write this post about these two dresses I loved and I discovered they are both by the same designer, Adrianna Papell. What can I say? I know what I like.)

Reconsidering Wedding Colors

Whenever someone asks us what our wedding colors are, it always reminds me of that scene from Steel Magnolia's where Julia Roberts says her colors are "Blush and Bashful," And her mother says very flatly in a southern drawl, "Her colors are pink and pink. It looks like the sanctuary was hosed down with pepto bismol"
Right.

So when David suggested getting rid of "wedding colors" I was on board. David pointed out that the whole 'wedding colors' thing feels like sort of a scam. Why do we have to pick two or three wedding colors? So we can buy matchy matchy bridesmaids dresses? So we can buy ribbon and flowers and chair covers that all match? Somehow that just feels like a excuse to sell us things.

A color palette is sensible, since it gives you a visual theme and prevents people from clashing. But colors? I don't know. I'm not that focused a bride, I don't think. I don't really want to control that many elements of the day.
And we are seeing more and more images from weddings where the couple didn't make everything match perfectly, and I think they look just lovely. So we are thinking of just going with jewel tones, and not narrowing it down much beyond that.

What do you think, Internets? Is anyone else as tired of wedding colors as we are? Out with the colors in with the palettes? What are you doing for your wedding?

Bottom photo via Snippet and Ink.

The Simplest Wedding

Ever have days when the details of wedding planning are stressing you out, and getting you down and you start wondering what the point of it all is anyway? Then check out this awesome flickr wedding that was just a simple ceremony in a park, followed by a tiny picnic.
Oh, right! It's about getting married! It's about the ceremony! All you really need is your beloved.

Sigh. Much better.

The Bouquet Toss, And Other Gender Weird Traditions

We are cutting a lot of traditions from our wedding that we think have weird gender implications. We are not doing a garter toss. Luckily, since its a Jewish wedding I don't need to decide about how I feel about my Dad walking me down the aisle, since both parents will walk me down the aisle, which I love. We've reworded our invitation in a less traditional way that makes me feel more comfortable. No one is giving me away "to" someone else, thanks!

That said, I'm thinking of tossing my bouquet. Why? Because I am a professional on the bouquet catch circuit. I've been catching bouquets or wrestling other people to the ground while trying to since I was at least five or six. I love it! It's one of the most fun parts of a wedding, as far as I'm concerned. However, I really don't love the "woman who catches the bouquet is the next to wed" idea. So, we are thinking of just making it up for grabs for anyone to catch, and make it "good luck."

I've heard a few alternate ideas. I like the idea of doing a 'bouquet dance' where you present the idea to the couple who has been married the longest. I suggested that to my parents, and they looked a little panicked. Apparently, they might BE the couple married the longest at the wedding, and didn't love the idea of being pointed out for being well, older. Which of course I hadn't thought of. I mentioned this before, but one of the best ideas I've heard is Ariel's method, where she gave it to a recently married gay couple, with a few words about how she hoped soon all couples would get the rights of marriage (and the stress of wedding planning). With California making gay marriages legal, and New York recognizing gay unions, we may well have some recently legally married friends on hand. So that is another possibility.

What about you, dear readers? What are you doing with your bouquet? What wedding traditions are you keeping, which ones are you skipping? Which traditions seem fine to you, and which rub you the wrong way?

Photo via Maggie Mason, of her own wedding.

Lauren & Derek's Budget, DIY, Camp Style Wedding

So, I know you may have seen this super awesome wedding elsewhere, since it's gotten tons of coverage, and heck, these flowers are probably on your inspiration board (they are on mine!) But I couldn't resist writing about this wedding. It is chocked full to DIY goodness, budget friendliness, amazing ideas, and friends & family pitching in. And given that, how could I not share more details with you?

Lauren & Derek run the Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco (a store we're personally huge fans of). They got married a few years back at the Log Cabin in the Presido in San Francisco. This venue is super cool, and we turned it down because I decided that the best possible wedding had already happened there, and I wasn't going to mess with that! This is one of the few weddings that I've seen that used a theme amazingly well. They called their wedding a "True Love Jamboree" and everything tied back to a log cabin, camp, National Park idea.
The brides dress was made by a (famous and talented) friend Todd Oldham. Not all of us have friends quite that talented, but its a great example of reaching out to your circle of friends to help create a meaningful day.
Those amazing flowers were done by a family member. A trip was made before the wedding to San Francisco's Flower mart (exactly what we are doing) where they loaded up on Dalia's. They made vases by covering jars with wood grain contact paper.
Their cake was made to look like forest logs, and they even had their wedding rings designed to look like woodgrain rings (awww). You can see Jennifer Kellogg's wood grain ring designs here.
For favors (again, favors I love) they had scout style patches made that said "True Love Jamboree." And the detail I'm most obsessed with? Super cool silver flatware that looked like twigs (I want!)
In a great example of a splurge that makes sense, since her dress was made for her, the bride wore Christian Louboutins in a bright, sassy, re-wearable color.
The couple got married out in nature (no need to decorate!) and had a friend as a officiant.
To go along with their theme, they set up a bunch of camp like activities. Mahjong for their Chinese relatives, a horseshoe toss, picnic blankets for hanging out, and... a s'more station! Behold:
Food was simple burgers, corn on the cob, and other picnic food. It fit right into the theme, and it wasn't crazy expensive.
The evening wrapped up with music from a band that was friends with the couple.
And the point of the story, dear reader? How happy they look.

Photos are by Jessamyn Harris, a awesome bay area photographer (wedding elf!) who will embrace all of your weird and creative ideas. She was a friend of the couple, and took the photos as a gift to them. She wants you to know that she took these photos years ago (but they are so cool she can't live them down!) You can read more about this awesome wedding and see a slideshow over at her site.

Also, though you know it hurts me to plug the WIC, Lauren & Derek's crafty home is featured in The Nest's print magazine this month (don't even bother with the website. It's running a story about upgrading your e-ring. Ick.)

Vendors, Or Creative Wedding Elves?

Since minute one of wedding planning I've always felt a bit weird about the idea of vendors. I was envious of those couples who had "vendor free weddings." That is until David pointed out that I was, after all, a practical person, so he had no idea why I was fantasying about feeding 125 people ourselves.

Lately, I've figured out my issue is really around the word "vendor." I mean, what are we planning? A county fair? Please. I have, however, valued supporting independent artists since I was a little girl. I grew up around a artist community, so I know what it's like to live as a independent artisan (hard), and how it feels to buy something handcrafted and know you supported the artist (great). So! I'm proposing a terminology shift. Out with the vendors, in with the helpful wedding artists (or innovative wedding elves? Wedding creatives?)

I'm lucky to be exposed to some of the cooler wedding artisans around, thanks to both this blog and living in the Bay Area. I'm featuring some awesome artists this week, and invite you to share you recommendations in the comments. On that note, I'd like to share a few things I've learned so far about choosing wedding artists:

• Don't put money into what makes you crazy. If there is a aspect of the wedding industry that drives you totally mad (for me, wedding gowns and engagement rings), don't put money into it. Find an alternative way to spend your money. The WIC is only as huge as it is because of all the cash in it's pockets.
• Find vendors (achem, artists) that want to work with couples like you. It's going to make you nuts to have a photographer that really wants the garter shot, if you are not garter tossing kind of girl. Save yourself the headache and find someone who likes you both for who you are. Luckily some vendors are willing to travel for reasonable rates, so if you can't find good people in your area, you have options!
• Prioritize. You probably can't have all the amazing vendors you want. And you know what? That's ok. That's going to make you appreciate the people you do have working on your wedding that much more. If you really love paper goods, spring for cool invitations. If you love photography, find a great photographer. Don't splurge on things just because it's what you are supposed to spend money on, if it is not what you are into.
• Don't limit yourself to artists that advertise as doing work for weddings. If you love a photographer, ask them if they would be willing to work on your wedding (and then explain that you are a SANE bride!) And always, always let your friends and families volunteer their skills.
  
• And my best tip is this: You know you have found someone you want to work with when you feel like "We can't possibly afford to pay this person what they are worth," or "If I had a extra $1000 to spare I would shove it in their pocket right now, because they are that awesome." If you feeling ripped off by a vendor, that is a red flag. This doesn't mean the vendor is a bad person, but it's your subconscious piping up to say that they are not right for you.

What are your vendor tips internets? Do you have vendors that you love?

Photo via Time.com (also, check out their article about thrifty weddings).

Georgia & Errol's Vintage Wedding

I know that I get really excited by each new budget savvy practical wedding that I share with you, but I can't help it! They are all so awesome. So naturally today, I'm the most excited about this wedding, sent to me by Australian photographer Hailey Bartholomew of You Can't Be Serious, of her sisters wedding. First all, a word about Hailey. She is actively looking to work with brides doing creative independent weddings. Ahhh! Vendors who want to work with couples like us! You can't beat that. Australian readers, take notice!

There are about a thousand things I love about this wedding. But most amazingly, it was planned in just three weeks with the help of family and friends. Three weeks, people!! Their family and friends pitched in on all the wedding details. They got married in a park, and then had their reception at a restaurant. Simple, and clearly full of joy.
The bride found her vintage wedding dress and her amazing veil at a vintage store for a grand total of $400, including alterations. Can I mention that I am so in love with her veil that I want to steal it out of the picture?
Ok, first of all, how adorable are those flower girls? Ah! This had got to be one of the most fun wedding party pictures I have ever seen. It looks like a party! All of the girls dresses were found at a vintage store. The guys all wore their own suits, and they bought hats to unify the look.
The bride's sister took all the photographs (ohh, to have a super talented photographer for a relation), and her husband made invitations from engagement pictures turned into photo postcards.
These adorable flower girl dresses they bought online to match the vintage style, and then sold them on eBay after the wedding. The flower girls are the brides nieces.
I'm in love with group shots at weddings, since it's such a great document of everyone who celebrated with you, and this may be the ultimate group shot. These pictures make me feel like the wedding was a indie film (Amelie?), and contain such a amazing sense of movement and joy in them. I am, quite officially, in love with this wedding.