1. Real Weddings

A Quirky, Bohemian Wedding at a Private Residence in Sebastopol, California

Melissa and Matt were married at a private estate in northern California, surrounded by trees. We chose a palette of cream/white for literally everyon

Melissa and Matt were married at a private estate in northern California, surrounded by trees. We chose a palette of cream/white for literally everyone. I actually attended a friend’s beautiful wedding years ago and was blown away with how incredible her photos looked with everyone in white or cream – so naturally I straight up stole the idea! It turned out incredibly, surrounded by all the green of the forest, Melissa says.

I signed up for The Knot immediately when we got engaged and a long page of dresses that were featured appeared. My eyes locked on this one and I said to myself 'Oh, I could never afford that gorgeous dress.' I clicked on it anyway to further stalk it, and guess what? I could afford it! Thanks BHLDN! says Melissa.
Melissa, Matt and all of their guests traveled from the ceremony location to the reception location parade style.
Melissa and Matt posed with their dog-child Finn for photos during their wedding day.
We did not have a flower girl, but our ring bearer was our four legged furry son, Finn, a 1 ½ year old French Bulldog. He wore a green and white patterned bow tie from American Apparel that my mom and I craftfully mounted onto a tan leash to blend in with his fur, Melissa says. He may have been the most handsome man in attendance.
Matt's suit was white, but he accessorized with gold French bulldog cufflinks in honor of the couple's pet, Finn.
The couple asked guests to place cards in an antique suitcase set up on a rustic barrel.
On their seats, each guest had a pebble and a bell (to ring once the couple was married). The pebble was part of a Celtic tradition: The pebble is a symbol of the couple's love and the special relationships the couple has with each guest. The officiant instructed guests to hold the pebbles in their hands throughout the ceremony and to transfer their love, good wishes for happiness, health, prosperity and unity for the couple and their family.
We had three hay bale seating areas with a Mendocino coffee table in the middle of each. There was a vase of flowers covered with a brown paper bag different vintage decanters of Milagro Tequila and Jameson (our favorite alcohols) at each table, says Melissa.
We decided we wanted our families to stand up with us, and have a role in the ceremony. They are our best friends and it just seemed so intimate and right for them to be involved, instead of observing from the crowd. My mom, sister, mother-in-law and sister-in-law wore pieces from their own wardrobe, in a cream or white palette, says Melissa.
Each table had seven various sized/type glass jars with candles inside. Each table also had a jar of crayons and paper placemats under each place setting. My favorite part of the tables, was the LARGE family style jug of red barrel table wine from our favorite vineyard, Preston Vineyards in Healdsburg, says Melissa.
Small succulent terrariums were flanked with antique Ball jars and pictures from the couple's engagement shoot.
We had a Celtic based ceremony. Matt’s heritage is Irish and Italian and we are both spiritual, so we wanted to have a meaningful, family-oriented ceremony without it being religious, Melissa says.
Our music was 90s hip-hop with throwbacks from The Temptations, Footloose, and everything in between sprinkled in, says Melissa.
In Irish tradition, the bride’s father presents the family sword to the groom, which officially welcomes the groom into the bride’s family and charges him with the responsibility of defending her and her honor. My dad (Sam) presented Matt with his US Navy sword during our ceremony and said kind words welcoming Matt into our family as his son. We later cut the cake with this sword! says Melissa.