“From the beginning, Devon & Rebecca knew they wanted to host a wedding that was a reflection of their personalities. Both with a simple, elegant style the Rio Carrillo Ranch was the perfect venue. With it’s amazing landscaping and homey vibe their reception was reminiscent of a backyard BBQ. Rebecca is from South Carolina so she knew she wanted to add a few southern touches to her wedding. From her sweet tea lemonade signature drink to her cowboy boots, the wedding oozed of southern charm. Rebecca also choose simple details for her wedding such as burlap table runners, mason jars filled with babies breath, and homemade jam for guest favors.” – Melissa of Continuum Wedding Photography

I love the chalkboard details!!!! Fantastically woven through the entire event… these signs where not only darling but informative! The hand drawn details bring a charming and personal element into the design. The great thing about DIY-ing a chalkboard sign is that chalk is very forgiving – unlike paint! Fantastic job!

My favorite memory of the day is the ceremony – we used somewhat traditional ceremony guidelines but wrote everything ourselves and our brother-in-law performed the ceremony. I used a verse my mom wanted to use in her wedding ceremony to my dad. She died almost 5 years ago, but making sure she was part of the ceremony made it touching and memorable.

We tried to make as much as possible since we were budget-conscious and also because we wanted our day to feel personal. So, with the help Devon’s family and mine, we made the Save the Dates, invitations, favors, programs, signs, and my sister-in-law Melanie made a beautiful photo backdrop for our guests to pose in front of. We also made our own favors – 90 jars of homemade peach jam for our guests! It was a lot of work but it made the day so much fun- if you start early it’s easy to accomplish!

I think it’s so important to take your time in planning and making your wedding a total reflection of you as a couple. The day can be whatever you want it to be so forgo convention or tradition if you want to- we respected other people’s advice and input but ultimately made our own choices. Planning can be hard work, but if you make decisions based on the two of you and are patient with each other you’ll have a really special day that’s memorable for you and your guests. – Rebecca, the bride

photography: Continuum Wedding Photography // dress: David’s Bridal // tuxedos: Friar Tux // venue: Leo Carrillo Ranch // event coordinator: Meaghan Schmaltz of Weddings Made Splendid // floral design: Branches, a Floral Studio // caterer: Dave’s Catering & Event Planning // cake: Susina Bakery // hair + makeup: Theresa Amundsen // lighting: Vynce Pham of Music Phreek DJ & Lighting // DJ: Tom Walker // transportation: Rolls Livery Service // bridesmaids dresses: chosen by each maid, they were asked that they be coral or pink, knee length and flowy!