Jennifer and Augustine’s May 20th wedding was absolute DIY perfection! Jenn (as she likes to be called) served as her own wedding planner for her intimate, 25 guest wedding. The berry palette Augustine and she chose perfectly complimented their beautiful outdoor venue. It poured the day of their wedding, but you’ll want to read on to see how Jenn and Augustine took it all in stride.
Jenn & Augustine
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How did the two of you meet? I made coffee for the same book club every week. I showed up after working a 75 hour week to find someone had broken the coffee machine. I was tired and upset. Augustine snuck out and bought large 7/11 coffees for everyone there to make me feel better. We've been in love ever since. Describe your engagement: He planned an elaborate date night with cabaret style live piano and prime rib. How it actually played out: we ate at a place called a Beef Inn, with a little keyboard in the corner. We ended up walking Balboa Park in San Diego afterward where he popped the question in the gardens under the gorgeous Spanish colonial architecture. It wasn't perfect, but it was definitely reflective of us. Personal or handmade details: We cut, stained, and painted all of our wedding signs. My little sister is in a floral design class so we created my arrangements together. I also go to culinary school, so I recruited a couple students to make the menu I wanted and a cake I designed. My maid of honor, Heidi made my birdcage veil and my daughter's flower crown. Our favors were local blackberry honey with handcrafted "meant to bee" labels. I also got married in my favorite old burgundy doc martens. So that was cool. Personal touches were a big deal for me. "Cookie cutter" just isn't our jam. Describe your Flowers: Jewel toned peonies and lisianthus with lots of eucalyptus and greenery for a closer-to- nature and rustic bouquet designed by my sister and me. Memories and Stories about the Day: It poured rain and we ended up moving the entire wedding under a twenty by ten foot covered deck. Nothing ended up where it was supposed to be, and I was amazingly calm for how neurotic I typically am. My heart knew I was marrying the right guy. And nothing else mattered. My favorite memory was standing at the alter and promising forever. Your first dance song: Cheek to cheek by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald The thing that we would have done differently is? We should've had better communication about a contingency plan. After all, we got married outdoors in May in the Pacific Northwest. Our venue had no cell service and when the rain began, nobody knew where to relocate to since they couldn't get in contact with me. If we could have spend our wedding dollars differently, we would have: We had an incredibly small wedding with only the people we really loved and couldn't imagine our day without. There were lots of hours spent doing crafts and making things as affordable, yet personal as possible. I don't regret any of our spending. We ended up being fairly frugal and it was money well spent. I' d really highly consider paying for a wedding planner though if I had a do-over. It's a ton to try and balance on your own. Your advice for other plus size brides: Your wedding doesn't have to be a huge production. Surround yourself with the people you love, make your personalities shine, and eat your favorite food. Be authentic to yourselves. Whatever that looks like to you. For us, it's jazz, nature, and Mediterranean food. Let go of chasing perfection- you'll miss the best parts of your wedding that way. What has surprised you most during the first few months of marriage? You know, I don't think I am too surprised. We already have the perfect little family with our daughter, Dakota. And there was never any doubt that Augustine was the one. Life is always in session and I'm just enjoying being Mrs. Herrera now!
Vendor Love - Photographer: A Place in Time Photography | Wedding Planner: Bride | Jewelry: My Borrowed and Blue piece (my maid of honor's diamond and sapphire earnings) | Bride’s Attire: JJ's House #002071524 | Bridesmaid, Groom and Groom's Attire: Personally Owned | Ceremony and Reception Location: Cedar Creek Grist Mill | Music/Entertainment: Jazz courtesy of Apple Music custom playlists | Rentals and Décor: Northwest Rentals- Hillsboro, OR &Lavena B. Vintage Rentals | Officiate/ Minister: Richard Whittington
