Think This Is A Classic Blush Wedding… Think Again!
Think this is a classic blush wedding... Think again! Not only were this bride and groom born to be together (they met at the age of 11, and their sweet love story is a timeless classic that will have you wiping away a few tears); but their wedding day also brought in a few exotic details, one of which was their special guest, Stanley the African Giraffe!
That's right this soft and sweet wedding has some very unexpected elements you are going to have to see for yourself! Kelly Brown Photography caught the whole day on film, so once you are finished with the post be sure to head over to the full gallery to find even more of Rebecca and Taylor's big day.
Finding A Style And Wedding Vibe
From the Bride: We knew we wanted simple elegance, an earthy color palette, and some playful elements. We wanted to complement the natural beauty of Saddlerock with warm elements such as natural wood charger plates, wood handled flatware, candles, and wild blooms. We were inspired by the muted, dusty tones of the rocks surrounding Saddlerock and chose a palette of muted peach, blush, and coral, punctuated by a rich, deep blue- inspired by the ocean. The muted, feminine palette was applied in the floral arrangements, which included wild roses and bougainvillea, and in the bridesmaid dresses. The bridesmaids chose the shade and style they liked best. The deep blue came through in the table linens and groomsmen’s suits. The stationery and paper decorations brought the two color palettes together.
Embracing the charm of the animals at Saddlerock, we were inspired to look at prints of vintage silk scarves and antique illustrations. Our amazing stationery vendor, Amber Moon of Pitbulls and Posies incorporated fun and elegant animal motifs throughout, including in our save the date, wedding invitation, welcome gifts, cocktail napkins, table cards, and dinner menu. We particularly loved the little chameleon, a nod to our first pet together, Leo.
Love Knows No Age
Taylor and I first met in 6th grade when Taylor moved across the street from my best friend. He and his brother were the cute boys on the block. In 9th grade he transferred to my high school and although we’d exchange the occasional hug in the hallway, it wasn't until 11th grade that we became close and started dating. We’ve been together ever since. We’ve been through a lot, braving 5 years of long distance to attend different colleges and have our own life experiences, but being together was always worth the wait. He captured our relationship so beautifully in his vows when he said, “I have witnessed your transition from a young and passionate girl into a strong impressive woman and my love for you has evolved; it is deeper, more complex, and stronger than it ever has been. I had to hold back my tears when listening to him speak.
We got engaged on a camping trip in the Mojave Desert in California, surrounded by some of our favorite things – cool rock formations and cactuses. We were on an evening walk in a canyon when he proposed. Taylor surprised me and picked out a beautiful sapphire engagement ring all by himself. He knew I wanted something different.
Meet Stanley, He's A Giraffe
The planning process was made easy by the amazing ladies at Duet Weddings. They helped plan everything from start to finish. We started by picking a handful of adjectives to describe our ideal wedding: relaxed, elegant, inviting, genuine, romantic, and memorable. Then we set out to find a beautiful venue that could serve as the inspiration for our décor. Working with Duet was by far the best decision we made. When it came to picking the venue, we fell in love with the natural beauty of Saddlerock Ranch in Malibu. We love how it feels expansive and majestic with the incredible rock formations, but also intimate and romantic with the old oak trees.
We were drawn to the playful and unique aspect of the African animals, including Stanley the giraffe who our guests got to feed during cocktail hour! The venue is relatively close to Los Angeles, but still has a destination feel. When you arrive, you feel like you've been transported somewhere special. We looked to the venue and our own passions and personalities to drive the design of the wedding. We both love nature, animals, and traveling to visit my mom’s family in Costa Rica.
- Rentals: La Tavola Fine Linen
- Bridesmaid Dresses: twobirds
- Cakes & Catering: Urban Palate
- Cakes & Catering: Bo Nuage
- Event Planning & Design: Duet Weddings
- Flowers: Wild Vase
- Hair & Makeup: Nyrie Aitken
- Lighting & Entertainment: Supernova Events
- Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Anne Robin
- Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Karina Puente
- Paper Goods & Calligraphy: Amber Moon Design
- Photo Booth: Amuse Booth
- Photographers: Kelly Brown Photographer
- Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
- Rentals: Atelier + Dine
- Venues: Saddlerock Ranch