We had our wedding ceremony at the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden in Pasadena. It has several different areas including a waterfall, bamboo forest, a barn and cottage, and a few different garden areas. Plus peacocks roam around freely there. We had our wedding ceremony in the Rose Garden. It had a gazebo at both ends and several archways in the middle that we were able to walk out of. There's a little walkway area behind the rose bushes and archways that the bridal party waited in out of sight from the guests. It was absolutely beautiful. We took wedding photos in different parts of the garden and most of our wedding party photos in front of the waterfall. Since we weren't putting down chairs or equipment and we had a very small ceremony it only cost $500 and it included a golf cart and driver to shuttle our guests in. Everything was perfect!
We had our wedding reception at The Castaway Restaurant in Burbank. Joe surprised me by renting us a limo to drive us over there from the ceremony. It was actually a pretty short drive. I thought it would take a while to get there on a Friday during rush hour but we got there so quickly we had to ask the limo driver to circle around for 15 minutes so we wouldn't get there too early. We enjoyed a bottle of champagne during the ride. We had our reception outside on the patio which had an amazing view. We didn't have very many guests (only 30) so we only needed a small area. It ended up being three guests tables of 10 and a sweetheart table. The weather was perfect and it was a beautiful view and really good food. The sun set and the full moon came out. We didn't have any dancing, just a plated dinner and open bar but our package included two bottles of wine on each table, a glass of champagne for the toast and our wedding cake. Joe's best man and my maid of honor gave very touching speeches. The wedding cake was delicious! It was a white cake with buttercream frosting. There were two fillings, bavarian cream and strawberry. I really loved the strawberry and wish I had had a chance to have more than just a few bites of it. It was by Diamond Bakery, one of The Castaway's contracted cake vendors. Later in the night all my bridesmaids sang karaoke to a Disney Little Mermaid song. It went by so quickly and I feel like I barely got to eat anything but it was so wonderful. I think everyone had a really great time and it really was perfect. Joe said it was the best day of his life and I think that's true for me too.
The dress is called Strapless Lace A-Line Gown with Side Split. Style #YP3344. It's a size 4 but I had to have it altered and taken in at the waist. I didn't need to have it hemmed and the top fit perfectly but my waist is closer to a size 2. They sell it online but I bought it at the store. Originally they ordered a size 6 but it was way too big so they had to send it back and re-order in a 4. It cost $799 but the store was having a $100 off sale so I basically just saved tax on it. I used a $500 gift card I received as a Christmas bonus from my work so my out of pocket cost ended up being only $300 though I had budgeted 1k for my wedding dress. It has a corset back and ruching in the bodice. There is silver and white beading at the top bust that continues down the sides of the corset in the back and a patch of beading on the side where the split starts. It's made of lace that's 55% nylon and 45% rayon. The shell, tulle and lining are all 100% polyester. And the netting is 100% nylon. Made in China. I got the Ivory color even though it looks white to me. The color they consider white is a really bright stark white that has a bluish hue to it. I guess the Ivory has more of a yellowish hue so it's not as blindingly bright. Most of the David's Bridal dresses come in Ivory because it's a more traditional wedding dress white.
*Lower 5 pictures by Judy and Gavin Photography.
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