Real Wedding Inspiration: Jenny & Rene's Sunny On a Rainy Day Wedding

With how unpredictable the weather has been lately, I thought it fitting to post this recap of a wedding we had at our Club this past November where the weather turned sour, but the wedding stayed sunny. This goes to show that just because the weather forecast calls for storms, doesn't mean you have to let your wedding turn gloomy!

For this wedding, we fit the entire ceremony under the terrace and pulled down the clear plastic partitions to keep out the rain, but still allowed for the guests to admire the view. Plus with heaters under the terrace keeping the guests toasty and the sunshine yellow color scheme the bride picked out, you almost forgot that it was pouring outside!

The weather turned out nice for this couple and the rain stopped just in time for the ceremony, so they were very blessed with a bright, beautiful wedding after all!

These were the stylish programs they had made that also acted as fans (though today it didn't end up being hot, it's a very pretty presentation). We had people handing them out as they walked in and just before the ceremony I had a small table placed near the door and put a few spare rose petals on the table so late guests could pick one up as they walked in.

Speaking of walking in, this was the reception table that guests were greeted with as they arrived. The couple chose not to have it covered with linen to show the natural wood grain of the table that went well with their theme.

I thought this fingerprint tree was a nice idea for them to have as a keepsake. They asked their guests to stamp their fingerprint on the canvas. They didn't have anywhere to put the trash from the wipes they thoughtfully provided their guests to clean their fingers off from the paint, so I brought out this small basket that worked perfectly.

Also in lieu of a traditional guest book, the couple chose to have their guests sign this decorative plate and leave them a message that they could appreciate for years to come.

Instead of seating cards waiting at the front for guests to find out what table they were at, they went with one of my preferred ways to do it, having the names listed alphabetically by last name on a seating chart board. They decorated it according to their theme and it looked really nice, plus I think it's faster than searching through cards for your name and makes everything much more organized and streamlined.



They did have seating cards though, which were placed at the individuals' tables for them to find once they came in from the ceremony. They handmade their seating cards with cute yellow paper owls & a swirly tree branch. Also in this photo below you can see the fun table number signs they made and the favors, which coincidentally I used to love eating when I was younger-Pocky sticks! They bought the dipped cookie sticks in two flavors (only the best, chocolate and strawberry!) which I made sure to place on the tables alternating each color so that everyone had a different flavor by their place setting (in case they wanted to trade and it looked nicer).

Another special request for the bride, we set up a small table near the front so they could place their bingo game that they planned to play during the reception. This was a first for us, but your wish is our command!

Also in the room, the couple rented a photo booth which normally would be out on the terrace but due to the weather we thought it worked best inside. Since it was white, it actually blended in well with the decor of the room and would be used more than if it were outside and it started to get cold.

These were the beautiful tall yellow and white centerpieces that they chose for their wedding which made the room look really bright and sunny.

The sweetheart table also looked lovely with the additional flowers that were brought in from the arbor after the ceremony was over. It was definitely still bright inside and out as you can see despite the earlier threat of rain.

Finally, my favorite aspect of any great wedding. The cake! I loved how it was decorated with yellow orchids and we added the flowers around the table from the ceremony arbor as well to make it look spectacular. Our Club also added a chocolate dipped strawberry to each plate, so the guest got an extra special treat!

We hope you are enjoying your happily ever after Jenny & Rene- Congrats again on a gorgeous wedding & best wishes for your life together!

Real Wedding Inspiration: Personal Touches At Blanca & Elfego's Reception

Our packages at Porter Valley do a great job of covering all the bases for catering, setup, & even including linen color choices & chair covers, but we leave the extra decor & creative elements up to the bride & groom so they are able to put their own personal touch on the wedding.

Blanca & Elfego's wedding is a perfect example of how adding your personal stamp to the reception can make your wedding day more memorable.

Right off the bat, they set the tone with their seating chart (which had the creative table names I mentioned in my previous post) that called to mind all the positive traits of a loving marriage. All of which we are sure this sweet couple will have!

Also they chose a guest book with photos from their engagement photo shoot. This is a beautiful keepsake for them (which reminded me of the yearbooks of my youth, but with much better photos & upscale leather binding). The bears in a tuxedo & wedding gown greeting the guests were also a nod to the couple's softer side, or at least another cute memento for Blanca to keep to remind them of their wedding.

Yet another fun keepsake for the couple to take home...At the registration table, the couple placed these champagne bottles dressed to the nines in wedding attire!

This time I can't wait to show you the cake until the end. I love the color choices of pink, white, & brown. Plus the large R, their new shared last name initial, was just subtly sparkly enough to add a bit of a wow factor without being too gaudy. I am not a big fan of bling though, so just my opinion, but this couple did it right!

This was a fun moment when the bride revealed the groom's cake, which she had made as a surprise for her new husband. He was loving the fact that the cake was modeled after his own vintage car. This is a great way for brides to infuse a bit of their fiance's style into the wedding because, let's face it, the pink flowers don't really reflect his essence! With the groom's cake, you can add that manly element & share with everyone one of your fiance's favorite hobbies, sports, or other passions.

The details on this groom's cake were amazing: From the lights to the bumper to the license plate to the cans being pulled over the asphalt base to the Just Married! written on the back window...nothing was overlooked!

A glimpse of the room, ready for the first guests...notice the sheer white draping and lights on the pillars? They added a lot of warmth to the room and a bit more personal style which was, again, the couple's idea to enhance the look of our country club. I am a big fan of lighting & draping as they can really transform the look & feel of a room.

The couple brought in their own toasting glasses, which had a heart design that will also be a lovely keepsake of their marriage. The crystal glasses along with a larger centerpiece made for an understated, but beautiful sweet heart table.

 

We want to raise a toast to Blanca & Elfego!

We were so happy to see you both enjoying your special day & we know all the extra details & time you put into your wedding will make for gorgeous pictures & memories that will last a lifetime. Now you can relax & enjoy your married life!

Congratulations!