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REAL WEDDING| Boho Garden Party Meets Green Room After Party in Laguna Beach | A Rood Photo

Y’all this real wedding is definitely one I would have loved to be at one because it ‘s by the beach…..love!! And two because it really seems like such a fun event. I absolutely love featuring gorgeous wedding but I love featuring fun and personality filled weddings even more. I can’t wait for y’all to read all the personal touches this couple infused into their wedding. So amazing!

Jessica and Jackson

From the Bride

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“The Bunnies” had our “Rock Me On the Water” wedding at the Women’s Club of Laguna Beach with approximately 175 wonderful friends celebrating. The suggested dress code was “Boho garden party meets green room afterparty” and we so enjoyed seeing the beautiful, bright colors and individual splashes of character everyone had adorned themselves in for the occasion. 

Our wonderful friend Tanya Ellis Petersen served as our wedding’s musical director and coordinated a group of professional musicians from throughout Southern California who kindly donated their time and talent to make sure every moment was graced with the most perfect live music. Before the ceremony proper began, the wedding party took beautiful photos at our hotel by the beach as our guests enjoyed arrival music played on classical guitar by soloist Fernando Perdomo. 

Another unique feature of our wedding was our “Matrimonial Chest of Weed” as bride had found an antique steamer trunk that had been converted in a gorgeous chest, and encouraged our wedding guests to bring their weed of choice as an offering for the chest. In lieu of a traditional guestbook, one of our wedding guests designed a beautiful poster inspired by the colors and themes of our wedding. Another friend of ours made sure everyone signed it, and it’s another appropriate keepsake from such a robustly jovial and loving wedding. 

After the bride walked down the wedding to a processional version of “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty, another dear friend married us in a brief ceremony that included a live song, poetry reading and exchanging of rings and vows. Our favorite moment from the whole day was when the groom smashed the ceremonial glass with his foot, and in honor of our joint love for Van Morrison, our officiant had everyone jointly exclaim, “It’s Too Late to Stop Now!” 

After the ceremony, everyone moved chairs to make way for a dance floor, as everyone enjoyed taco catering, wine, beer and an aguas frescas bar. The all-star band Tanya assembled played Van Morrison’s Astral Weeks album before the bride and groom enjoyed their first dance. For the occasion, the house band had learned “Harbor” by a singer-songwriter we love named Carsie Blanton, the chorus of which we had inscribed onto our wedding bands. 

Another highlight was the following groom/mother-of-the-groom dance, for which we picked “You May Be Right” by Billy Joel. It was a complete surprise to Mom, who said it was best song we could have possibly chosen. Twenty-five musicians played about six total hours of music after the ceremony, as we all enjoyed the nuptial dance party of our dreams. The cake-cutting was a moment shared between the bride and her best friend and “Best Woman,” celebrating and acknowledging their twenty years of seminal friendship that saw the bride from college through to her healthy marriage. 

As the music continued for another several hours, everyone enjoyed a special evening filled with music, love, joy, friendship, revels and merriment. Everyone had such a wonderful time, and the greatest gift they gave us was feeling like we really had our dream wedding. 

Photographer: A Rood Photo | Venue: Woman’s Club of Laguna Beach | WeddingPlanner & Stylist: The Bride – Jessica Curtright |  Bridal Attire: “Kitty” by Stella York, style #6432+ (w/ added custom-made sleeves by @coleenscottdesign) Bridal Attire website from Della Curva Plus Size Bridal Salon |  Bridesmaid Attire: EVANGELINE LINEN TUNIC W0294 in “Happy Holiday Palm” yellow from Boden (w/ custom lace inserts added by bride) | Groom and Groomsmen Attire Designer: The Groomsman Suit | Flowers: Cathy McCool of McCool Flowers | Wedding Stationery: Paper Culture | Hair Stylist: Vivian Kellie | Makeup Artist: Nicole Van Velzer | Linens: Persiano Events | Caterer: The Chill Taco Catering | Jewelry: Bruce & Zeda Spiegel at The Jewelry Factory | Bakery: Sensitive Sweets, Gluten-free Bakery | Bride’s “Astral Queen” Crown: Erica Elizabeth Designs 

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Shafonne Myers is a certified wedding and event planner who longed for bridal inspiration that looked like her. She has created a website and magazine that brings bridal inspiration to plus size brides. She does speaking engagements educating the world about plus size brides and self confidence.
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