The last part of a tremendous wedding. Anna helped me write this posting as well.
“We didn’t have ‘wedding colors’… whenever someone asked I would just say ‘natural&neutral’. I had always known we were going to be using burlap for table runners and mason jars as vases…and was caught a bit off guard when it pushed it’s way into the forefront of rustic wedding fashion. I was worried about people thinking we were just following the trend….. (usually if something becomes super trendy I am turned off by it) but we were so happy that we stuck with it and came up with a celebration that felt so personal, individual, and organic.”
This reception was one of the most incredibly detailed parties I have ever been to and I adore the fact that Anna had put so much time, effort and careful thought into all of it. Everything was in line with the couple’s personal values from sharing a meal that was not only delicious (Anna is a bit of a foodie….OK, well a lot!) but also made by the bride and family themselves using passed down recipes right down to being able to reuse/share/recycle any item as well. This was the first time I had tasted pulled pork and seriously, what took me so long? Anna and kin had spent the entire night before shredding the pork for the wedding ~ if that isn’t dedication, then I don’t know what is. And quite a bit of the decor was already in Anna’s personal repertoire from her home. Even all the Torani syrups!
The whole wedding was such a gathering of family and friends ~ setting up, preparing and taking down. Alain and Anna are well-loved, indeed.
Thank you both, from the bottom of my heart, for making me feel more like a welcomed guest. Your families are tremendous and your extended network sublime. Your wedding day was perfect!
Reception Location: Glenwood Hall (Driftwood Hall)
Catering: Bride designed the menu and recipes. Family from both sides pitched in the day before the wedding to whip up the delicious feast!
Cakes: Molly Hosie (bridesmaid ) and Emily Zentner (honorary sister) who walked in the flowergirl and ringbearer
DJ & MC: Jesse Butler, Northern Lights Audio
Stripey Straws: Think Garnish with ‘flag’ nametags handmade & added
Refreshments: Italian Soda Bar using Torani Italian syrups
Design and Decor: Wreaths, pompadours, table runners, doily pennants, mason jar vases, lanterns, and homemade sweet pea seed favors all lovingly (obsessively) assembled over a long cold northern winter. The cost to rent tablecloths equaled the cost to purchase enough muslin for all the tablecloths, so we bought the muslin and then were able to give lots of it away to all the family that had pitched in to cut & hem tablecloths. They will be able to use it for quilting and sewing projects of their own! We cut rounds of birch for the reception decor from logs we had cleared from our fields. Every path and decision made was based on using something we already had tonnes of (like mason jars) or purchasing something that could happily be reused (fabric)!