Handcrafted Sonora Wedding

If you’ve been waiting to find a wedding that effortlessly blends bohemian, rustic, DIY, and eclectic style, then wait no further. Joleen Willis delivered this California wedding with a bride who knocked every bit of her wedding day out of the park while wearing an incredible lace Free People gown.

From the bride, Lindsay: We wanted our wedding to feel quirky, comfortable, and colorful. It was a destination wedding, so we wanted to create a special place for us all to escape and celebrate! Our wedding style inspiration evolved through our invitation. I drew and designed our invitations and realized we could not settle on a few colors, we knew we needed a kaleidoscope of hues to really celebrate who we are. So we decided to have the bridal party, florals, and linens neutral so that we could use colors freely throughout our spaces.

We collected bottles, yarn, vintage glass, rocks, and anything else that made us smile! We glittered bottles, feathers, and hand painted all of our signs. We hand made the floral arrangements, bouquets, and boutonnières out of dried flowers, pods, and feathers wrapped in vintage fabric and yarn. I hand painted the large gold photo- drop, and created the escort metal flowers out of recycled materials. Ultimately, we ended up with a very eclectic bohemian vibe — which was so us, and so fun.

Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? Have fun planning your wedding! There is no such thing as traditional anymore! The only thing that really matters is that the bride and the groom agree on decisions! Also, vendors are extremely important. All of our vendors felt like family and they made our day seem flawless. I actually interviewed photographers with a series of questions: Like whats your favorite band/music, what are your hobbies, background etc. I ended up picking Joleen Willis photography because she sent me the the most passionate email, filled with answers that looked like I had written them. We hired her immediately and it was one of our best decisions!

See Also

A Vibrant Destination Wedding on Kona Beach in Blue & Gold

Wedding Music:
Processional: “Here Comes the Sun,” The Beatles
Recessional: “Fat Bottomed Girls,” Queen
First Dance: “Leather and Lace,” Don Henley and Stevie Nicks
Reception Entrance: “Thunderstruck,” AC/DC

Wedding Location: Sonora, CA / Photographer: Joleen Willis / Flowers: Bride / Wedding Venue: Union Hill Inn / Wedding Dress: Free People / Floral Crown: Bride / Jewelry: Anthropologie / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Free people, H&M, Nordstrom, Urban Outfitters / Groom’s Pants and Vest: Brooks Brothers / Groom’s Shoes: Urban Outfitters / Wedding Caterer: Lunch Lady Catering / Dessert Bar: A friend of the mother of the bride / Snow Cones: Torani / Cocktails: Austin Cocktails / Acoustic Musician: Jason Powers / DJ: DJ Just of Designer DJs / Videographer: Kurtela Video Productions / Wedding Invitations: Bride and family