San Juan Capistrano Wedding with Handmade Touches
Danielle and Samer’s San Juan Capistrano wedding is handmade goodness from beginning to end, and we’ve got the images to prove it. Sue Wheelock Photography, Simply Sweet Weddings & Events, and Lavenders Flowers put their talented minds to work and created a day full of beautiful pinks, lush flowers, and rustic details that warm our hearts to the core. There’s also a video from Element Wedding Films at the end; make sure you check it out!
From the bride, Danielle: Our wedding day was one of the best days of my life and I always catch myself glancing over wedding pictures, watching our wedding film over and over again, and reminiscing about all the fun times we both had that day. One of the most important things that Samer and I wanted to make sure we portrayed throughout our wedding was who we are as a couple, simple yet fun. We decided on using a lot of color, many rustic touches, and tried to keep things as unique as can be. One of our favorite things about the wedding planning process was all of the projects we did together. Our favorite DIY item was our dessert table backdrop that was made up of different size wood rounds that Samer cut and I painted. I then laid out all of the rounds onto a painted backdrop of wood and set with wood glue. We both really enjoyed getting wood chips and dust all over us, mixing colors of paint to make new colors and obviously, our amazing finished product that we were able to display for our friends and family on our wedding day.
Bouquet recipe: Succulents, Dahlias, Garden Roses, Peonies, Dusty Miller, Queen Annes Lace, Hydrangeas, Eucalyptus leaves.
So many of our items were DIY. The dessert table backdrop, boxed favors, table letters, burlap runners, flower jars, Mr. & Mrs. Signs for reception chairs, Bar Sign, Escort Card table banner, Instagram Chalkboard Sign, Guestbook Tree (drawn by Groom), Card/Gift Mailbox. With my obsession and love for succulents, we grew and cared for 120 little potted succulents for 6 months leading up to the wedding in order to have as an escort card for each person that day. What a commitment that was, but actually surprisingly vital for our relationship. We learned patience when ones would wilt or die, excitement once they really started to take form, and gratitude when the day came and all of our loved ones took one home to continue to love for.
Any advice for couples planning their weddings now? I think now looking back on our wedding planning, the best advice I can give is let the small things go. In the end, you are marrying your best friend and soul mate. If something goes wrong that day, let it. I remember the night before our wedding, my husband was unloading our car at the venue when he came up the stairs and had this look of terror on his face. A pane of our vintage windows for the seating chart had cracked. He told me, thinking I was going to be completely devastated, but in that exact moment, it just didn’t matter. All I cared about was walking down that aisle the next day, whatever else would happen before that, just didn’t matter anymore. Your coordinator, like my amazing one, can fix all of those issues, which she did and made it still come out looking amazing.
View all images from this wedding in the gallery
Wedding Music:
The Processional songs: Groom walked down to “I Wont Give Up”, Jason Mraz, Bridal Party walked down to “This Years Love”, David Gray, Bride walked down to “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” Ingrid Michaelson.
Recessional: “Hey Ho,” The Lumineers
Bridal Party Reception Entrance: “Happy,” Pharrell
Mr & Mrs. Reception Entrance: “We Found Love,” Rihanna
First Dance: “The Lime Tree,” Trevor Hall
Wedding Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA / Photographer: Sue Wheelock Photography / Event Coordination: Simply Sweet Weddings & Events / Floral Design: Lavenders Flowers / Venue: Franciscan Gardens / Wedding Dress: Allure Bridals via Mon Amie Bridal Salon / Wedding Shoes: Nina Forbes via Nordstrom / Hair: Jennifer Garcia of JenniferHair / Makeup: Ashley Gannon Makeup & Hair / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: The Wedding Day Bridal Boutique / Groom’s Suit: Ted Baker / Groom’s Shoes: Allen Edmonds / Caterer: 24 Carrots / Wedding Cake: Simply Sweet Cakery / DJ: Elevated Pulse / Videographer: Element Wedding Films / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Transportation: Best Chauffeured