Classic Summer Wedding (Oakland, CA)
As told by Trojan Shooter Photography: The love story of Stacie and Rod is one of my favorites. It’s the stuff fairytales are made of. Their story began in August 2013 when they were dining out in separate groups, but seated close enough to have a conversation. They didn’t exchange phone numbers, but Rod found Stacie on social media and reached out. They initially communicated via social media before finally taking it offline. After an amazing first date, it was an official match made in heaven! Almost 3 years later, Rod popped the question on Stacie’s birthday in January 2016. Their wedding was on September 2, 2017.
Stacie is super easygoing and laid back. And her wedding was a perfect reflection of her personality. When we met to discuss the wedding details, she knew exactly what she wanted. A simple wedding with a touch of elegance and modernity. She’s a chef so food is super important to her. The ultimate goal was to celebrate with family and friends. She wanted to make sure there was plenty of amazing food and drinks, and for everyone to have an amazing time!
The venue itself was a huge part of the aesthetic. Sequoyah Country Club, nestled among Monterey pines and redwoods in the hills of Oakland, California. It was built in 1915 and has had many renovations since then, but still maintains its vintage appeal. The outdoor space is ideal for weddings as it provides a panoramic view of the San Francisco Bay. The golf course is stunning and a photographer’s dream. The couple used the landscape and architecture as the backdrop for their photos.
We looked at ways to bring in texture and color to the design elements. The theme was simple and elegant with navy, green, pink and gold accents. The floral centerpieces included pink and white roses, carnations and blue thistle. For the table design, Chiavari chairs in gold, votive candles, ombre chiffon silk overlays, colorful menu cards, and navy linen napkins, for a splash of color.
Stacie found creative ways to use her budget by utilizing many online alternatives. Shops like Etsy, Visaprints, and Staples for items like invitations, menu and place cards, and other wedding signage are great for creative, cost-saving options. The bridesmaids wore vintage dresses by Rephyllis via Amazon. The bridal party attire blended very well together and the groom’s tux stood out with his plaid jacket and tastefully complemented the color palette.
On the big day,, the Bay Area had been experiencing a heatwave with one of the hottest summers on record. The temperature was 110 degrees. With an outdoor ceremony, we kept guests inside until showtime. We offered multiple water stations, outdoors and indoors. There was light, ambient prelude music by a flutist to set the mood as guests were seated. Following the ceremony, the cocktail reception included beer, wine and light appetizers. There was also a steel drummer, which brought a tropical feel to the event.
Stacie really wanted to provide a great guest experience. She provided a flip flop station for ladies to swap the heels for dancing shoes and baskets with essentials were placed in bathrooms for the ladies and gents. For the reception entertainment, there was a DJ, guitarist, and soloist. Guests partied all night long and were treated to late nights snacks, including a taco and nachos bar.
To make the most of the budget, the bride cut down on cost by having both the ceremony and reception at the same venue. She was also able to utilize the ceremony flowers at the reception. She cut expenses by hiring a Makeup Artist who was a recent graduate of the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics and Cosmetology.
Location: Oakland, CA
Event Date: September 02, 2017
Design and Decor: Amazon
Bridesmaid Dresses: Amazon
Invitation Designer: Vistaprint
Signage: Staples
Groomsman Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
Groomsman Attire: The Black Tux
Dress Designer: Morilee Madeline Gardner
Makeup Artist: Makeup artist
Band: Coconut Hut Entertainment
Linens and Coverings: Napa Valley Linens
Reception Venue: Sequoyah Country Club
Floral Designer: Lee’s Discount Florist
Bakery: Cupcakin’ Bake Shop
Event Planner: KLO Events
Photographer: Trojan Shooter Photography
Client Questionnaire
Q1: Tell us about your wedding! What was the inspiration behind your day? Did you have a specific theme, style or color palette? Did you incorporate any cultural or religious traditions in any part of your day?
A1: The theme we achieved for our wedding was simple elegance with a hint of glamour. Our color palette was forest green, navy blue, and pops of light pink. The weather was quite hot on our wedding day (about 100 degrees), but the vibe that day cool and relaxed.
Q2: Let’s talk about wedding decor. How did you decorate your space for the ceremony and the reception? Was any part of the decor DIY?
A2: Our wedding décor was elegant yet understated. We stuck with our color scheme with the linens and flowers. Chiavari chairs were utilized during the reception as well as votive candles. Due to our limited spare time, we did not have any DIY projects for our wedding items. Instead, we found some great deals online.
Q3: What were the florals like at your wedding? Did you use flowers in any of your design elements like the bridal bouquets, centerpieces or ceremony backdrop? Did they play an important part in the overall style of your wedding?
A3: Our fresh flower selections were white and light pink roses, white and light pink carnations, and blue thistle, which were included in the bridal bouquets, reception table centerpieces, and on our wedding ceremony arch. Our floral design complimented our color scheme and overall theme – simple elegance.
Q4: Did you personalize the day in any way (food trucks, guest entertainment, etc.)? What were some of your favorite parts of your wedding?
A4: Yes, we personalized our day with many elements – a flute soloist performed during the wedding ceremony, a steel drummer performed during cocktail hour, we offered flip flop sandals to our female guests who had fatigued feet, a singer and her guitar accompanist performed during the reception, we offered a taco and pizza bar as a late-night snack, and we offered toiletries in the women’s and men’s restrooms.
Q5: Let’s talk about fashion. How did you both choose your wedding day look? Describe the looks in detail.
A5: We stuck with the theme of simple elegance with a touch of glamour. My wedding gown was a strapless, mermaid-style dress with beading and embellishment on the bodice. The groom selected a classic black tuxedo, however, accented it with a plaid jacket that tastefully complimented the colors we utilized in the wedding.
Q6: How did you meet? Tell us about the proposal.
A6: Rod and I met at a local restaurant in August of 2013. We dined at this restaurant with separate groups but were seated close enough to each other where we were able to carry on a conversation. We began dating shortly thereafter. Rod proposed to me on my birthday in January of 2016, which was very sweet and sentimental.
Q7: What was the most anticipated or special moment of your wedding day?
A7: Everything! I looked forward to all the elements of the wedding and overall, had a wonderful time!
Q8: Do you have any wedding planning or marriage advice that you’d like to share with other couples planning their day?
A8: Start planning your wedding as early as possible – even begin working on the details early on. Don’t stress – enjoy this time!
