The Wedding
It's hard to put into words the realities of that day. It was a blur of emotions and hugs and butterflies and all the happiest little things. When we got engaged in Sept 2017 we knew it would have to be a summer wedding. It wasn't long before we had found our venue and settled on June 9th 2018 as the blessed day. I remember that moment when the date was set. The insane reality washing over us that after this day we would be married forever. The nine months that followed were filled with the most challenging ups and downs we have ever faced as a couple or individually. But despite the hardships they were also months of growing and planning and dreaming.
THE VENUE
Most people will tell you that booking a venue is the most important decision you will make during the wedding planning process. The venue is the setting onto which you paint your dreams and creates the tone for the rest of the day. We were relatively quick to book our venue as we wanted to have our wedding in Downtown Tulsa and our options were limited. The Tulsa Central Library had been newly renovated and opened its doors for wedding parties only weeks before we got engaged. Eric and I both love books and there was something so magical in the thought of getting married at a library. As soon as we heard that we could hold the ceremony in the library courtyard we sprang into action and booked it the next day. The Central Library offers several options for event spaces that can accommodate weddings as well as receptions. This was another huge advantage for us. We were able to host the ceremony in the beautiful courtyard and since it was a hot day in June we opted to host our reception in one of the inside event spaces. Our original choice was a smaller room directly off the courtyard, but as our guest list grew we soon realized that the space would not accommodate our number. The wonderful event staff at the Library helped us to switch to a downstairs room large enough for our reception and all worked out for the best.
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THE FLOWERS
The most important detail of the wedding for me was 100% the flowers. Obviously flowers can be extremely expensive and eat up a huge chunk of your budget. We initially met with a floral designer to create all the floral arrangements and bouquets. After thoughtful consideration we decided to do the flowers for the reception and decorations ourselves and use a florist for the bridal party. This decision is definitely not for everyone. My genius mother discovered a website were we purchased the flowers and greenery at a much lower price then expected. Our final order included divinely pink Peonies, dainty Camomile, white Spray Roses, sweet Daisies, Queen Anne's lace and assorted greenery. Two days before the wedding the flowers arrived and promptly filled our entire tiny basement apartment to the brim. We spent the next few days elbows deep in flowers, creating gorgeous arrangements and unforgettable memories. On our wedding day I was able to experience the wonderful surprise of my custom bouquet and I am so glad we decided to have the florist create it for me. I believe it was worth the extra expense as it was a dream come true, and that's what weddings are made of! The reception flowers were beyond words and they transported the simple and modern venue space into an English garden. One of my favorite things on the day was a last minute decision by my mother to let the guests take home the table arrangements. As they left the reception, each guest took with them a bouquet or two wrapped in brown paper. What a dreamy souvenir.
THE FOOD
When it comes to wedding food there are many different interpretations. Our wedding began at 6 o'clock so a full dinner service was a bit of a necessity. This was one of the few details were I had a very sure idea of what I wanted. If at all possible, I wanted each person to be able to choose their own meal and for it to be ready right away at the reception. I had always wanted a picnic wedding, however the reality of eating outside on the ground for several hours in the June heat did not seem like the best choice in the end. But lunchboxes filled with picnic fare were my compromise. We found an amazing catering company called 624 that created delicious options that fit a variety of tastes and preferences. Dinner was served in white paper boxes with a sticker on top of each indicating their meal of choice. We also served bags of kettle chips sealed with an illustrated sticker of their own.
For dessert I dreamed of white butter cream cupcakes. We used a local bakery, Merritts, to bring my dream into reality. When we met for a consultation the women who served us was beyond herself why I wanted plain white with no decorations and she kept trying to talk me out of it. We had a laugh on the way home. My mother always referred to me as wanting a "Minimalist wedding" and I . In addition to the cupcakes we wanted a bride and grooms cake. Eric opted for a banana cream pie, while I made a special request for a strawberry honeycomb cake which was comissioned from Lauranne Baking Co. one of my favorite spots in Tulsa. Each of the desserts were decadent yet simply unforgettable.
to be continued...