Country Wedding with Sunflowers, part 2

Rustic. Yellow. Elegance. Barn. Romance. These words describe the inspiration for our dream wedding reception.

We took one look at Crooked Willow Farms and knew that it was made for our reception. The big, red barn is tucked in the midst of mountains, farmland and a white, picket fence – a perfect setting for our Colorado wedding celebration.

I have always dreamed of a vibrant yellow wedding with sunflowers. Ever since Drew and I were surrounded by the sunflower fields of Tuscany, Italy, I knew we wanted to be surrounded by the same sunshine and happiness on our wedding day.

We had a lot of country touches at our reception. Guests were greeted with horses and a hayride. Wine barrels served as cocktail tables. Horse shoes were the good luck charms for our guests that hung on a rustic, wood door on display for escort cards. And, our entire wedding party changed into cowboy boots for the reception.

I’m all about details. So, we made sure the DIY projects throughout the wedding reception were one-of-a-kind.

Custom cut and hand painted antique wood signage (made in our garage), were scattered throughout the reception area, pointing guests to reception, cocktails and restrooms, but also reminding them to “dance” and “eat, drink & be married”.

Our table numbers were made with burlap fabric, wood numbers and rustic photo frames.

We created custom sunflower seed packets for place cards. Women received sunflower seeds to ‘plant, love, grow’ in the garden, and men received edible sunflower seeds to ‘crack, chew, enjoy’. They went perfectly with our sunflower theme and gave guests a sweet reminder of our wedding day. 

Kids received sunflower chocolate suckers for their sweet place card.

Drew and I danced to our high school song, ‘Making Memories of Us’ by Keith Urban. I remember listening to that song at only 16 years old and imagining our first dance together on our wedding day, dancing to that song. It was an emotional moment for me – I couldn’t believe my dream of marrying Drew was finally a reality.

From my emotional walk down the aisle with my dad toward man of my dreams, to our first kiss as a married couple, to my gorgeous, handmade bouquet to match my dress, to an unforgettable wedding party entrance, to emotional and hilarious speeches, to amazing sunflower balls and arrangements, to dancing under a beautifully draped tent and rustic chandelier, to a sparkler send-off… our wedding day was everything that I had dreamed of and more – a day that I will never forget.

VENDOR LOVE

Dress: Amsale Bijou from Felice Bridal Salon

Shoes: Jimmy Choo ‘Isabel’, Nordstrom

Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaid

Groom/Groomsmen Attire Rental: Al’s Formalwear

Planner: Jessica, Tre Sorelle, trejsorelle@gmail.com

Paper Products {Invites/Programs/Menus/Escort Cards/Sunflower Seed Packets}: Fleur de Lis, a paperie

Ceremony: Holy Ghost Catholic Church

Reception: Crooked Willow Farms

Bridal and Bridesmaids Jewelry: Kathryn Giarratano Jewelry

Photographer: Jenna Walker Photography

Guest Book & Escort Door photos: Cori Cook Floral Design

Videographer: Creative Mountain Images {CMI} videography

Caterer: Epicurean Catering

Cake: Intricate Icings Cake Design

Tent: Event Rents

Linens: Kimi Hansen, Après Party and Tent Rental

Floral: Cori Cook Floral Design

Décor/ Lighting: Rodd Metcalf, LMD Productions

MakeUp: Aldo Celeste, Flirt Salon

Hair: Kristina Porreco, 303.313.9791, A New Image Salon

DJ: Jeff  ‘Maestro’ Hughes {violinist} and DJ Q

Cocktails Entertainment: Derek Evilsizor

Transportation: Fox Limo

Horse hayride for guests and wedding party: Gary, Kodiak Ranch

Country Wedding with Sunflowers, part 1

After a little over a year, I am so excited to finally post my own wedding on Tutto Bella! I hope you enjoy 🙂

I met the man of my dreams when I was only 15. Exactly six years after he asked me to be his girlfriend, he asked me to be his wife.

We tied the knot on September 3, 2011 in front of 220 of our closest friends and family at Holy Ghost Catholic Church in downtown Denver.

 Lanterns lined the aisle in one of Denver’s most beautiful and oldest churches.

I was so in love with our programs. Stephanie from HuberArt on Etsy sketched the church where we were getting married, and Tutto Bella’s own, Jenna, owner of Fleur de Lis, a paperie, created this one-of-a-kind program. It was perfectly classic and timeless.

For my ‘something blue’, my mom had a rosary custom made in sapphire, my birthstone. It was so beautiful, and I loved how Cori attached it to my bouquet.

My nephew, Jameson, pulled my niece, Gabriella, down the aisle in a rustic wood wagon with a sign on the back saying, “here comes the bride”. They captured everyone’s attention with their sweet and innocent smiles before my dad and I walked down.

DIY burlap bags were handed out to each guest after leaving the church. Inside each bag contained “The Perfect Mix” of butterscotch trail mix (our favorite!), “Happy Trails” direction cards to the reception venue and custom photo water bottle labels.

I was at a total loss for words when I saw my bouquet for the first time. It was exactly how I envisioned it and more. The intricate detail that Cori put into creating it for me was absolutely amazing! Thank you, Cori, for making the bouquet of my dreams!

{stay tuned for jodi + drew part 2 tomorrow!}

VENDOR LOVE

Dress: Amsale Bijou from Felice Bridal Salon

Shoes: Jimmy Choo ‘Isabel’, Nordstrom

Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo from Bella Bridesmaid

Groom/Groomsmen Attire Rental: Al’s Formalwear

Planner: Jessica, Tre Sorelle, trejsorelle@gmail.com

Paper Products {Invites/Programs/Menu}: Fleur de Lis, a paperie

Ceremony: Holy Ghost Catholic Church

Reception: Crooked Willow Farms

Bridal and Bridesmaids Jewelry: Kathryn Giarratano Jewelry

Photographer: Jenna Walker Photography

Videographer: Creative Mountain Images {CMI} videography

Caterer: Epicurean Catering

Cake: Intricate Icings Cake Design

Tent: Event Rents

Linens: Kimi Hansen, Après Party and Tent Rental

Floral: Cori Cook Floral Design

Décor/ Lighting: Rodd Metcalf, LMD Productions

Make-up: Aldo Celeste, Flirt Salon

Hair: Kristina Porreco, 303.313.9791, A New Image Salon

DJ: Jeff ‘Maestro’ Hughes {violinist} and DJ Q

Cocktails Entertainment: Derek Evilsizor

Transportation: Fox Limo

Horse hayride for guests and wedding party: Gary, Kodiak Ranch

welcome our new sponsor Felicé Bridal

The word felice  means “happy” in Italian. We can tell you that weddings make us happy. Gorgeous weddings gowns make us happy. And, it makes us really happy that a fabulous, beautiful bridal store like Felicé Bridal, and the talented mom and daughter duo {Karen and Robin} who own it, are now teaming with Tutto Bella. In the future, we can all look forward to tips, trends and jaw-dropping gowns from Felicé Bridal here at Tutto Bella.

With a wide range of prices and designers including Romona Keveza, Amsale, Anna Campbell and Kenneth Pool, Felicé Bridal is one of Colorado’s top bridal salons. If you’re getting married {congrats}, or have a friend getting married, call Karen or Robin today to make an appointment for a fun-filled, pampered day surrounded by satin, silk and lace couture beauties.

When Robin showed us this dress, we fell in love {and secretly wanted to have another wedding celebration just to wear it}. Look at that stunning back!
Gladiator Dress, Anna Campbell, The Ivory Collection.
The best part, prices range from $1,000-$1,400 for this dress, and it comes in several colors.

And this dress by Romona Keveza, Spring 2011, is sure to turn heads and have a bride feeling gorgeous.

{images via Felicé Bridal}

vintage halloween wedding inspiration

Happy Halloween.

This year, since the holiday falls on Wedding Wednesday, we made today all about a Halloween-themed wedding. Only its not the traditional orange and black color scheme – it’s vintage. You know us, we love vintage. And no vintage, Halloween-themed wedding would be complete with a black and white checkered dance floor, black goblets, Anemone flowers in antique vases, antique flea market brass candlestick holders, amber candles, chandeliers, black lace, caramel apples, love potion favors and earth-tone apothecary jars with soft pink, white and ivory flowers.

{images via: beautiful bride jacey with black sash on vera wang dress {featured on damsel in dior, photographed by Lauren Ross Photography}, black and white stationery {featured on Style Me Pretty, photographed by Liz Banfield}, black goblets {blog.celebration.co.za} antique candlestick holders {Ruffled}, chic and vintage mismatched centerpieces {Elizabeth Anne Designs}, love potion {Darling Darleen}, caramel apples {featured on Tutto Bella, photographed by Jalapeño Photography}, black and white dance floor {Estate Weddings and Events}, candles and pumpkin on black, vintage furniture and anemone flowers in vintage brass goblet {Style Me Pretty}, elie saab spring 2011 couture line black gown {OneWed}, chandelier with black draping {Tutto Bella, photographed by Betsey Holley Photography} and mcqueen pumpkin {sweet paul}

Rainbow Wedding Inspiration and Colorful Table Setting

Somewhere over the rainbow where the MN skies are blue
red, orange, yellow and green are there too.
Colorful flowers, linens and stationery are perfectly placed,
with this shoot, the colors of the rainbow are beautifully embraced.

We fell in love with these GORGEOUS images from Drew Coleman, Event Consultant at Life Design Event Planning, and his team. The Phoenix-based event planning firm recently expanded their services to Minnesota, and they certainly brightened the planning possibilities for brides and others in need of their services in Minnesota with this colorful shoot. They teamed up with Minnesota’s best, and the results were stunning!

Drew said, “This concept was simply inspired by the rainbow. We wanted to prove that we could do a rainbow shoot….and do it well! Being new to Minnesota, we wanted to collaborate with some local talent and work on something that would bring us together for something fun with some fun vendors!”

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

placecards_Life Design Event Planning_Sewell Photography

VENDOR LOVE
Desserts: Cocoa and Fig
Floral Design: Just Bloomed
Paper Products and Design: Paperista
Furniture: BeEvents Photography: Sewell Photography
Tableware and Linens: Apres Party and Tent Rental
Shoot Location: Calhoun Beach Club
Pillows: Pillowtalkk
Wedding Gown: L’atilier Couture Bridal
Hair and Makeup: Smart and Chic Bride
Concept, Design, Details, and Shoot Direction: Life Design Event Planning

{images via Sewell Photography}