Michelle & Eric

Hitting Polka Dot Bride all the way from California today! Michelle and Eric had a wedding that I want to go to. It’s full of special touches, little details that Michelle crafted herself But that’s not why I want to go! Michelle and Eric’s wedding was so full of love, so full of laughter you can’t help but giggle as you look through their photographs. It just strikes me in my heart every time I see a shot of them smiling- this is how it should be. This is how it how love looks.

The gorgeous photos today are captured by Onelove Photography. Sara (who is getting married herself very soon!) has captured today’s wedding with everything one could hope for- there’s lots of gorgeous details but many, many happy untouched moments as well.

Michelle and Eric filled their wedding day with DIY touches- including the bouquets!. Michelle says “Our main goal was to have most of the things at the wedding by hand and with love and not from some machine mass producing stuff. We were both told to take a minute during the day and enjoy what was going on around us. Because we were organized and had friends stepping up to help, we were able to take the whole day in, not just a minute.”

Michelle and Eric met before the ceremony underneath the redwoods on the property.

Michelle and Eric married at Freeman Winery where Eric is an associate winemaker. Michelle says “There have only been two weddings at the winery, ours and a previous employee’s.  It is secluded, in the country, quiet, and rustic. We made sure to use all of the wonderful spaces there including the barn (bridal staging area), the new house that the owners just built (groom staging area), the cave entry (for the ceremony), the cave (apps and champagne), the lush lawn (dinner) and the parking lot (dancing). Our first peek at each other happened in one of the two redwood stands surrounding the property.”

Michelle says “My friend made the feather fascinators for the bridal party. I made the escort cards and a friend pinned them on the board. I also made the bunting that hung above the champagne bar that read “Just Married”. These, of course, were just some of the DIY touches Michelle put into the day. She also made the neckties, hand assembled all of the stationery, made the favors, the photobooth, the centrepieces, the bunting, the tablecloths, the ceremony programs and the photobooth props!

Michelle says the day was filled with things special to her and Eric ” Family, friends, crafts, wine and food. I wish I could do it every weekend.”

Guests dined under the open sky on a feast catered by Rosso Pizzeria & Wine Bar. Each table centrepiece was different and made by the couple- the terrariums were even handmade by a friend who is skilled at stained glass work. Michelle says “A lot of brides who I had talked to about DIY said that it was disappointing because the guests didn’t appreciate it. But I really think our guests noticed. And the look on their face when they heard that this guest put together this and that one did that was priceless.”

A homemade wedding cake was made from doughnuts, while Michelle’s father drilled holes into dowel and created “props” for the couple’s makeshift photo booth.

The wedding cake was made by Mariposa Kitchen. Michelle says “Our first dance was to “Knock Me a Kiss” by Louis Jordan. We wanted something fun and flirty. It was a song we had danced to and quoted many times in our living room.”

A big thank  you and congratulations to Michelle and Eric for allowing us to share their wedding day on Polka Dot Bride! Thank you also to Sara of Onelove Photography for submitting today’s wedding to us!

Photos by Onelove Photography