I Do

Hi everyone! As wedding season kicks off, I hope you’ll enjoy this long overdue look at our wedding from last November, including a little bit about shopping for and tailoring the dress! =)

We got married within a month of our 9 year dating anniversary, so this fall will mark 10 years of being together, and 1 year of wedded bliss. =)

Fast forward to wedding venue scouting time, and Stone was first on our list. It turns out Stone in Escondido had some limitations (party size, music restrictions) that were deal breakers for us…but a new, bigger Stone Brewery location had just opened in Point Loma so we focused our attention there.

The day we arrived to tour with the event coordinator, a wedding reception was being held in the exact space we were interested in. We peeked in on the festivities and it was just what we wanted. Laid-back party atmosphere. Delicious food. Delicious beer with two(!) dedicated bars. A kick-ass band playing their hearts out (we liked them so much, we got their card & ended up convincing them to play our wedding too…). We basically said, “We’ll have what they’re having”, booked the space & picked the date right there on the spot. Our impending nuptials were quickly dubbed “Wedding of the Century” by beer thirsty friends and family once the location details started circulating. =)

The inside space we booked at Stone Brewery, Liberty Station // the chandeliers are beer bottles!

If you’re thinking about a San Diego wedding…Stone is actually a great deal. There is no space rental fee…just minimums that you have to meet, which we easily met and surpassed. It kept our party rentals down to a minimum because most things were included free of charge, such as all tables, chairs, dining plates and silverware, even the servers and tray passers were Stone employees set aside just for our party. Food and drink prices were also not the normal price-gouged wedding prices, which was spectacular. I’d definitely recommend!

Fun fact: I ended up finding the navy version of the Theory dress on sale!

Ultimately, I decided I’d probably feel more comfortable in something a little more “bride” than the shirtdress, so I booked an appointment with Monique Lhuillier in Los Angeles, since they consistently produce a line of cute, short reception dresses. It was the only bridal dress appointment I booked, and after trying on 3 dresses, I chose the very first dress I tried on that day. The boutique took my measurements, placed the order, and my mom and I toasted with a celebratory glass of wine at the restaurant next door. =)

I knew exactly what shoes I would wear…my blue suede Manolo Blahnik BB’s.

I went through 4 rounds of fittings. The first was to fit the bodice that lined the inside of the dress. The second was to bring the dress up at the shoulder to better align the waistline and bust to my own since I’m so petite. The third was to slim and adjust the bodice for a snugger fit. The last was to adjust the neckline, since I wanted it cut lower than the original design. I was able to pick up my finished dress 1 week before the wedding. Phew! Just in time.

A few fun facts you might like to know before heading into the photos.

• Our colors/textures were navy and charcoal tweed.
• We had a short and sweet ceremony at the brewery in an outside courtyard, officiated by a good friend of ours who got ordained just for the occasion (what a great friend!).
• We kept our wedding party SUPER small, only consisting of a single maid of honor and best man. They also happen to be the reason we met almost 10 years ago, which made it extra special to us.
• The outside bar started serving beers before the ceremony, which wasn’t planned, but ended up being great! Oddly enough, it calmed my nerves seeing friends and family happily sipping on beers during the ceremony.
• The flower leis we are wearing is called a Phuang Malai, which is a flower garland from Thailand.
• All night, people were complimenting my hair. My response, “Thanks! It’s not mine!” I have SUPER thin hair, so there’s not much to work with. I wanted it to look like I actually had hair, so my hair stylist put in extentions and no one was the wiser until I told them. Ha!

*note: for privacy sake, I’m only including a selection of photos that don’t include party guests.

Mmm…beer…*drool drool drool* // The real reason everyone showed up ;)

Our wedding band: The Show Ponies (check out their Youtube Channel!)

They played “La Vie en rose” for our ceremony // so happy a guest captured it on video!

Some of you may know these wedding crashers ;) Wendy, Jean, & Jen

The growlers were a popular party favor

Neither of us like cake, so a friend of ours who went to pastry school agreed to bake her signature Nutella stuffed chocolate chip cookies for our dessert. They were DELICIOUS!

About half way through the night, I kicked off my 4″ Manolos and switched into a comfy pair of Tieks. =)

All in all, it was a pretty laid back wedding which is exactly what we wanted. I hope you enjoyed the photos, and look out for a little special treat tomorrow. =)

Wedding coordinator: Lindsey Price // Wedding photographer: Tim King // Wedding band: The Show Ponies // Hair & Makeup: Alli Micucci at Bijou Beautiful // Venue: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens Liberty Station // Floral Arrangments: Studio B Floral Design // Dress: Monique Lhuillier // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik & Tieks