A Special Backyard Wedding for Team Feathered Arrow
Hey friends! Ready for some very exciting news for Team Feathered Arrow? Our Lead Associate Planner, Jess, is married! Jess is my right hand gal but she was also a client of mine. However, during the hectic, uncertain time last year, Jess + Jason’s plans changed, and changed again…and again. It’s something I know a lot of couples can relate to from this past year. Therefore, I asked Jess to contribute to this post with some first-hand insight into her big day. See below how the planning process went during the pandemic, and how they decided on a backyard wedding.
Tell us a little about your love story
Jason and I met back in high school after being cast in an Elvis-themed musical, called “All Shook Up”. During the lengthy dress rehearsals, we bonded over our similar sense of humor and definitive love for everything Disney. It was this love for Disney that led us to realize our true feelings for each other during one of our many spontaneous trips to Disneyland together. After 6 years of dating, Jason proposed to me at Disney World! I am truly blessed to have found my best friend, soul mate, + life-long ride-buddy at Disney!
What was the planning process for your wedding like? How did it change with the pandemic?
We got engaged back in November 2017, with the plan of having a long engagement. We set our dream date for May 2020, at our dream venue, and got a head start on the planning to bring our vision to life. This vision was us having a big and beautifully orchestrated ceremony + reception for 300 guests, set in Spring. We wanted a wedding that would be composed of the best of the best: the most beautiful flowers, the most extravagant food, the best mariachi band + DJ (pretty much all the bells and whistles!). Kari was the perfect person to help us keep track of everything and make our dream wedding a success!
By March, we were wrapping up all of the planning details and getting excited that our wedding was so close. Unfortunately, things took a drastic turn when the pandemic began. Like many other couples, we were devastated that our dream wedding date had to be pushed back. However, we considered ourselves blessed to have had enough time to reschedule + regroup. First, we scrambled to find a new date with our venue and moved our wedding to September 2020. From sending out new invites, rethinking our color palette, and even cutting our guest list in half, we watched our dream wedding shift into something completely different. Thankfully, Kari was able to help us lock in all of our vendors for our new date.
However, as the pandemic continued, with no end in sight, we made the heart-breaking decision to cancel our wedding altogether. We began to feel frustrated with no real wedding date set.
When did you decide to move forward with the intimate, backyard wedding?
After being engaged for so long and postponing our wedding twice, we both became very restless and eager to be married to each other. We realized we didn’t need the expensive venue, extravagant dinner, or big flower arrangements to be happily married. All we needed was each other and the love + support of our closest family and friends.
In late October, we got word from our parish’s priest that our church was allowing backyard weddings to be legitimate; and also seen as a church wedding. With this in mind, we decided to have a small, intimate wedding this time around, and a bigger wedding later. When we realized our immediate family members + closest friends were in town during Thanksgiving week, we locked in that weekend!
Bringing In The Bohemian Details
In order to create a beautiful and private space in the backyard, we put up drapery. Using neutral drapery meant we were able to give any color palette we chose a real chance to pop. We decided on a mix of vibrant orange + red florals softened with natural textures like pampas grass. Additionally, we used macrame table runners (you may recognize them from this wedding!) I love the amber bud vases we used as well! We rented bold, bohemian rugs to line the aisle for the ceremony (similar to this Big Bear wedding). Then we added a mismatch of wooden chairs for the ceremony. Jess + Jason also wanted to sit during the ceremony so we included a moody coral toned velvet couch that we later re-purposed for the sweetheart table.
A small cocktail hour was held under a pergola in the backyard. Jess + Jason gave each guest a customized engraved copper Moscow mule cups. Not only does it keep glasses from getting mixed up, but it’s a great wedding favor for guests. Brilliant!
Huge congrats Jess + Jason! Your wedding was so special and I am so thankful to have helped you start this new chapter together!
If you want some more backyard wedding inspiration, check out this backyard ceremony! If you’re ready to start planning your happily ever after, contact me on my homepage here and let’s chat!
Vendors:
Planner/Designer: Feathered Arrow Events
Venue: Residential Property
Photographer: Justin Jay
Florist: Blooms Dunn Right
Videographer: Honey Reel
Catering: Familia Perez Taco Catering
Desserts: Frost It Cupcakery
Rentals: Archive Rentals
Additional Rentals: A Rental Connection
DJ: Bryan Hildreth
Hair/Makeup: Diana Myres
