SHEsaysWITHaSMILE.blogspot.com

and start with a "thank you!" to my (our) daughter for creating, designing, ordering our wedding 'you're invited' invitations; and then a second round of 'excited you can join us' closer to the actual date, to people who rsvp'd yes.  we both positively love the artistic, stylistic choices and decisions you made..   the font choices, the wording, the placement..    as we are both artists too;  we appreciate what goes into...     LOVE! "Thank You!"     -framed treasured keepsake now...

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we are so grateful we had our wedding ceremony at  -our- church; park victoria church in milpitas.  -where, years ago, Robert taught youth Bible study; where they attended as a family, when his kids were young..    and the "HELP!" we received from Sharon...  enormously grateful (especially attaching those corsages and boutonnieres!, but so much more..); And David & Pahm & Simone..   our musicians + lighting + big screen/slideshow, "Thank You!"   -helping our vision manifest!

We had 3 songs at our Wedding Ceremony:  AS, by Stevie Wonder, which accompanied our slide-show.  Our slide-show, -only pix from the last 7 years, since we met; and with effort to include every guest at our wedding in at least 1 picture..        We have thousands of pix!  and grateful for each pix and the memory that goes with it..  but, wow to what it takes to edit!   

so, "thank you!" here to our daughter, Kassandra, who pretty much made the slide-show even possible.. we are not tech savvy, as you know..      You made it exactly what we wanted it to be!  And.. excellent professional photos!  gift of additional professional photos by a friend & peer, daniela harrington!  so grateful!   

2.  Down the aisle, by Patti Labelle & the Bluebells..      -Simone sang this..  and she knocked it out of the park!   -most grateful..    Pahm on piano... tremendous!  WOW really, to Pahm, David, & Simone. We are fans!  The musicianship we get to enjoy at Sunday services! on a variety of instruments..  the energy! the talent!  Pahm rocks as a drummer too!  David on guitar!  -honored you performed at our wedding.

3.  We Are Family, by Sister Sledge.  The perfect song, piped in overhead, to accompany ALL of our GUESTS, as they moved their way from their seats to the church stage for one of my husband Robert's famous and fun "group pix!"

  Pastor Michael Denton!  -Friend of Roberts from earlier days at Park Victoria Church   -We cannot count the compliments we received..  how Pastor Michael Denton officiated our ceremony/vows with that magical and engaging blend of scripture, humor, and friendship history, personal connection..   and great pleasure to meet his beautiful wife, and portion of his gorgeous children..   love & "thank you!"

 

  

  i loved, loved, loved getting to have this special and fun time with the 3 of you! love you! "thank you!"  

speaking of..   didn't our parents looks fantastic!

  

and, extra "thank you!" Jesus for the answered prayer, that my Dad, having so recently been in the hospital;  and extra "thank you!" Chris,     -he was there to give me away...   father of the bride...    and, fun fact..  he is going to be father of the bride 2 more times, with both of my sisters getting married in the coming year(s).

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let's start talkin' wedding decor, shall we:    -not by request, but from her own, creative, talented, generous heart and spirit, my amazing and dear fashion-model friend [and scientist!], she created this L.O.V.E. display.   SO BEAUTIFUL! each letter masterfully collaged, and vase hand-embellished..  AND! not only did she display it at park victoria church for our ceremony; she even RELOCATED IT! to el torito for our reception!  this added so much artistic elegance and beauty to our wedding day...  plus she gifted us the colorful balloon bouquet!  love & "thank you!" 

*****

our wedding became a very solid reason for me to just get to create stuff!  [legitimate excuse!]

our background at park victoria church was going to be 4 wooden pallets:  2, 8ftx4ft & 2, 6ftx4ft.

and i did some brief online research, and WOW to how beautiful and inspiring so many of the different ways people use these to create on for special occasions..  amazing!   but again, with so many choices, process of elimination becomes crucial..

i also had to factor in: we'd display it ourselves, the evening before.  -transportation..

we both wanted it to be quick n' easy..  not have too much to work with, organize, place, secure, etc.

easy up; easy take-down..

and i did want the decorations to be reflective of us, as a couple..

so, i did some math  (yes.. that's write.. me, math..); and i realized if i decorated 6 3ft x 3ft canvases..  this would fill in the space fairly equally; and meet the easy up/easy take down criteria

plus!   "empty canvases!"  yahooooo

all mixed media; all created outdoors in our backyard on beautiful sun-shiny days..

1. w/cross, of course! to capture our faith: Christianity.    

2.  bicycle theme, because it is one of our favorite things to do as a couple; bike, sight-see & picnic  

3.  'everlasting'  which represents our love for one another and God..  'walking in eternity together  

4.  football theme, because that is large part of our personal joy.. NFL fans..  and fellowship..  parties... 5&6, i used two canvases to create one heart...      

                  loved working on each one; very pleased with result.

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also, our choice for a wedding favor:  tambourines!  we had tambourines handed out by our grandsons to each guest prior to sitting down for our ceremony.  this was quite specifically so they could tap on their tambourines; make some joyful noise, sing along to AS by Stevie Wonder, while watching our brief slide-show to begin our ceremony.   Remember how everything is an empty canvas for me..

naturally i had to decorate!  and used canva to customize, personalize, design, and then vinyl sticker paper to create this:

with some select lyrics, and a thank you to our guests with wedding date/info on the back.   -great joy to create and pleased with result.

ALSO..    turns out we would need name place cards for seating at el torito  -and this was also a great joy for me to create and design.  no two exactly alike...  love the vinyl sticker paper!  placed it on magnets, set them in the cutest little heart shape holders..     delighted!   -p.s. also used canva to create a seating chart to give to the  (exceptional!) manager, Dee, to clearly show what name(s) at what tables..  worked out great!

 

and, the canvases, the tambourines, the name cards..   it is a joy for me to do myself...

what i can't do, is SEW.

i do have a creative imagination when it comes to what i'd like to see, clothes-wise, done to improve, embellish, convert, a given top, pants, skirt, etc.

but i have zero gifting or tools/resources for sewing...     that is why i am extra, extra, grateful for LESA!   -originally introduced to me via my mother-in-law, and now a friend..  with a wonderful talent!

love the question:  what does a 58 year old bride wear for her wedding?    love the answer:  whatever she wants!

again, process of elimination..   saving the formal, white for younger generation, first time weddings..

my criteria, while shopping was this:  something comfortable.  i want to be able to walk around, hug people, sit down, stand up, hold my grandson...   i knew i wanted floor length, personal taste...  i knew i wanted, off-the-shoulder/personal taste...   i did not at first know i wanted something

light-weight!  until i tried on several different dresses, and some of them weighed so much with the beading, fabric..

so,  light-weight became a criteria..     something flattering...    something sparkly...

and the dress i ultimately chose..  it met so many, but not every single one of my criteria..

i really loved the layers!  light-weight layers..   

so, easily...  because i know lesa..

so easily, i could look in the mirror and see...  if we add some sparkle... if we add some flowers around the neck line...  if we add some sleeves..

and so, love & "thank you!" here to lesa for helping make my wedding dress dreams come true!  i found a sparkly fabric to lay-over, just the front side of the dress...   each layer; and it matched, like perfectly!  and i just selected a few different color fabric flowers to add along the neckline, in addition to the few already on the dress..

she used the sparkly fabric to also make some sleeves..       very pleased with the result!   i was so comfortable..  but the dress still felt and looked wedding-ish to me..   -special.

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FLOWERS!  fresh flowers..   no secret how much i LOVE...     we went minimalist here, and our only flowers were the bouquets for maid-of-honor; bridesmaides; bride   -corsages/boutonnieres for our parents.. and my best aunt ever

 

each bouquet was its own kind of beautiful!  such pretty fall colors..    blessed to have our wedding, reception and florist, all in milpitas:  marleigh's floral design..   love & "thank you!"

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RECEPTION: El Torito, Milpitas:  -also can't thank the manager Dee, or her staff and team enough for the incredible above and beyond service!  attention to detail..   wonderful logistics...  added touches, that all combined, helped make our reception a great experience for our family & friends      love & "thank you!"

5 star! all the way