A Charming Family Wedding

Alexandria and Josh chose a wedding theme of love and family. Their European history was beautifully woven together with a West Coast backyard venue. This celebration was a family affair, and the care that went into every detail made this Portuguese affair glorious. There were lush flowers, a wonderfully lit reception tent, vintage gold candle holders, and perfectly set long tables.

Alexandria is excited to share how it all came together. “Our wedding theme was “home” and the roots that led us there. We held our wedding at the property I grew up in, 5 acres of farmland in Saanich. As a little girl, my dream was to get married in front of the pond and willow trees my dad planted when I was a baby. They were tiny then and grew up with me!

Originally home to my parents and father-in-law is the Azores, Portugal, so we incorporated Portuguese elements from traditional azulejos tiles for the guest gifts and served my dad’s homemade Portuguese wine. My mother-in-law’s antique door was used to collect cards in the envelope slot, and we used my mom’s sewing machine and quilting blocks to make our guest-signed quilt.

Hydrangeas grow wild throughout the islands of our heritage, so we used them in our florals, including the ceremony arch, the sweetheart table, and cedar and hydrangea garlands down the reception tables. I went traditional with the bouquets, making a teardrop shape for myself and smaller ones for the bridesmaids. The groomsmen and ushers wore traditional socks with Azulejos designs and carried flasks with the same design.

For the ceremony, we walked down the rustic paver pathway “aisle” to the tune of traditional Portuguese guitar players playing Fado. The ceremony area was adorned with hydrangea petals, symbolizing the flower carpets in Portugal. We exchanged our vows and planted a fig tree mixed with the soils of our parents’ and our homes, symbolizing the joining of our families.

We held the reception in a beautiful, clear outdoor tent in full view of my parent’s backyard—all hard word of my Dad! There was a collection of European artisanal cheeses, followed by trays and trays of buffet-style delicious Portuguese food, seafood trays, and delicious desserts. Our wedding cake was a naked-tiered passionfruit (traditional Portuguese flavor) adorned with figs and grapes. We celebrated the night away by drinking from the open bar, smoking cigars, laughing, and dancing the night away. It was truly the best day of our lives!”

We love that everyone had an important part in this charming family wedding, also a West Coast fusion inspiration! Congratulations, Alexandria and Josh!

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Weddings on a Budget...Not too long ago, the bride’s family was responsible for funding the wedding. But that notion has lost its foothold, and now financial responsibility often falls onto the couple. This one special day can get very costly for young couples just starting in life. Luckily, there are plenty of options to keep the price tag of a wedding attainable and still have it meet the requirements of your dream wedding. Here are a few ideas to make your wallet happy.

Micro Wedding

The pandemic has thrown a wrench in the works for many people’s weddings, but the new trend that has come out of these times is the micro wedding. A micro wedding is a small, intimate affair that saves the couple a ton of money. Instead of a guest list of 100 or more and all the food, drinks, and entertainment that go along with it, many couples are sticking to inviting only immediate family and very close friends. They may choose to keep the traditional formal wedding attire or go semi-formal to casual. The ceremony and reception can be the same but on a smaller scale, or you could opt instead for something like a day of wine and pairings tastings at a vineyard followed by a small ceremony. With a smaller group, your options are greater.

Destination Wedding

While a destination wedding to a tropical resort may sound dreamy and expensive, they’re actually about one-third the cost of the average traditional wedding. Destination spots in Canada, such as Vancouver Island, specialize in accommodating guests for weddings and will often provide most of the elements needed for a wedding in your package. They provide you with your wedding planner, so you don’t have to worry about details during your trip. Plus, your wedding is one day of your vacation, and the rest is your honeymoon. Like micro weddings, you’ll have a smaller number of guests that can attend, but they will be paying their way. And many of your guests will stay for several days and celebrate the newly wedded couple the entire time. Don’t forget that a destination wedding can be within your own country, such as the beaches and rainforests of Vancouver Island.

DIY Wedding

Having a wedding can be very involved, so many brides choose to employ the help of a wedding planner to work out all of the details. However, you can save money by forgetting a wedding planner and utilizing family and friends to help pull everything together. Instead of hiring someone to decorate, you could make your creative decorations and table centerpieces. Simple options like mason jars with ribbons tied around them and pebbles thrown in the bottom make lovely candle holders or flower vases. And when thinking about venues, consider a public space like a park to host your wedding. Weddings on a budget do not have to look like you are on a budget!

However you decide to spend your wedding day, it will be memorable because you’re spending it with the love of your life and the people who matter the most to you! Just relax and have fun throughout the planning process.

Written by Katie Tejada (McDaniel)

Author Bio: Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She often covers HR, business, recruiting, real estate, law, and financial developments and enjoys writing about travel, interiors, and events.

Photography by LumiPhoto and PhotoJinnic 

The post Weddings on a Budget appeared first on West Coast Weddings.

 

DIY Floral Crown Workshop Bridal Shower…the perfect intimate party! These days everyone has to imagine a bridal shower that will work in person and over Zoom. Voila! The bride and her bridesmaids learn how to create their own floral crowns along with their guests on Zoom. Did we mention the lush florals? Cake. Cookies and bottles of wine? Cause those are pretty important as well!

TIPS: Be sure your e-invite includes a list of necessary ‘ingredients’ that guests will need to gather to put together their own creation: floral tape, scissors, wire, some greenery, and a few blossoms of their choice. The in-person guests can work off a floral crown station where all the supplies they need are arranged.

Of course, every bridal shower needs a cake and décor! This Beverly Soh Flower Crown Workshop features beautiful centerpieces which guests used to create their crowns. The romantic floral design included blush ranunculus, premium roses, Ruscus, and feather eucalyptus. Flower circles featuring the same palette hang behind the bridal table as a backdrop to the soiree. The white vanilla bridal cake is topped with blush pink and white flowers sitting in greenery. We love the matching place setting cards, which are also a gift for each guest – elegant Swarovski crystal wine charms as a thank you for coming to celebrate the bride.

What is a bridal shower without a glass of wine? The wine station is a work of art with floral arrangements, a wine that has floral labels and is, of course, blush pink! Another highlight is the perfectly iced cookies with hand-painted flowers.

At the end of your bridal shower day, be sure that photos are taken of the bride in her crown holding her cake, the whole posse together, and lots of friends being pretty photos. That’s what bridal showers are about…making beautiful memories while nibbling on cookies and sipping cocktails. A perfect example of a DIY Floral Crown Workshop Bridal Shower that no one will forget.

PS: We think the name of the wine is a delicious irony! Les Fleurs du Mal Rose 

DESIGN + LETTERING: Hand Lettered Love by Bev | PHOTOS: Amber Leigh Photography | FLORAL: You Floral | CAKE AND COOKIES: Cakes n Sweets | MUA: Beauty en Route Paragon Makeup | CAKE TOPPER: Thistle and Lace } WINE CHARMS: Plum Polka Dot | FLORAL HOOPS: Fig & Fern Designs | SCRUNCHIES: Mary Hill Company | Jewelry: Magnolia and Vine Fraser Valley | MODELS: Samantha, Katrina, Erica, Chanel, and Bev 

You are invited to another blog with cakes and cookies!

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