Shelley and Jason's wedding was a total giggle fro A to Z.
Everybody enjoyed creating this event; Jason dug his quirky invitation idea, we all loved taste-testing at the ultra earthy Papa Christo joint, (who sent his middle aged crew of rural service people, a far cry from the usual model waiter) and the girls were hyped up hunting for unique vintage dresses. I wasn't even ticketed for my traffic mistake in Sierra Madre when visiting the site for the first time - even police seems nicer here. The several months long journey towards the wedding became an integral part of the big day: it was a funky fun filled process.
How could it not: the venue itself is a trip and we went with it head on: everything became an extension of this temple of delightful junk, grunge and knickknacks: Shelley's home made decor like the origami birds on branches and paper stars on washing lines fit perfectly to the chaotically zigzagging twinkle light chains over our heads, which looked light short circuit heaven.
Frankie and Tiny's delicious pies sat on stands which Shelley had glued together from pieces she found in thrift stores.
The vintage frocks, dresses and shoes matched the gingham linens, which again were perfect for the plastic chairs, a gruesome bunch really but within this Gesamtkunstwerk absolute ideal.
Visualize leather hiking boots from the 20's and camouflage rucksacks on tough cotton jackets or grand pa wiring his own house and grandma ma hording any junk that could be useful one day from plastic cups to posters, half burned out candles and candle holders of all shapes and sizes and you got the feel. I heard yodeling in my head... Some of the bizarre collections are simply awesome like the vintage German beer mugs. I couldn't let go of the kitchen and ah'd and oh'd while finding one treasure after the next.
Shelley and Jason created all stationary and signage, brought family heirlooms like a pocket watch, somebody's 50 year old artist brushes and lacy handkerchiefs to decorate the altar and brewed their special spiced and spiked tea.
The guest book was a high school note book with little birds on the cover, the inspiration for the center pieces.
Pine cones fit the woodsy feel and the paper plates and plastic were of course recyclable.
Next time, should I ever have an industry wedding here, we shall run Forest Gump and the Waterboy on a big screen - created with white bed sheets.
Normcore wedding anybody? We are prepared.
"Nature Friends was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1895 to provide members and their families with places to go and enjoy nature and encourage the study of nature related subjects. The Club soon spread throughout Europe and many lodges and clubhouses were built, usually in forests, ski areas or close to wilderness areas. In 1920, a group of Nature Friends living in the Los Angeles area decided to buy land in the City of Sierra Madre overlooking the San Gabriel Mountains. A few years later, a cabin was built in the San Jacinto Mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest...."which slowly made it into this retreat a quantum leap away from the buzz of LA.
Klezmer music: Schpiel
Event production: Agents of AWE
Venue: Nature friends, Sierra Madre
Pies: Frankie and Tiny (closed)
Catering: Papa Christo
