Silk seersucker simplicity

I'm so excited to be able to share a few photos of one of my favorite bridal gowns of the past wedding season - Joana's gorgeous silk seersucker Lydia gown!  Joana contacted me via Etsy nearly a year ago, knowing that she wanted a version of the Lydia gown but unsure of which fabric would be the best choice for her.  She loved the look of seersucker, but wanted something just a bit fancier.  Luckily, I had just seen (and fallen in love with) this GORGEOUS silk seersucker on one of my favorite fabric suppliers' websites.  After seeing the fabric for herself, Joana was as much in love with it as I was.  The texture and sheen of the silk fabric is just breathtaking!

 

As you can see, the dress came out beautifully - just perfect for an intimate family ceremony.  What more could you ask for?  Congrats and best wishes, lovebirds! :-)

Ana and Amber's double wedding

 

Announcing a first in Annabel & Ruby history - Ana and Amber's double wedding! Can you stand it?  Look at these gorgeous girls and their handsome beaus!

Ana on the left, Amber on the right

Ana first contacted me via Etsy last year as she and her sister began planning their unique wedding day.  Both girls were looking for a natural, comfortable gown that would express their unique style and design sensibilities, while still being practical for the barefoot oceanside wedding they had planned.  After some discussion, Ana chose a reproduction of the J. Crew Erika gown and Amber chose a reproduction of the Lucinda gown.  I was thrilled to oblige! 

Amber buttoning Ana

Ana buttoning Amber

The grooms (Ana's dude Adam on the left, Amber's dude Corey on the right) preparing for their surprise canoe entrance! 

 The setting: Stone Lagoon in Humboldt County, California

Ana and Amber's father walking them down the "aisle"

Amber, Corey, and their adorable boys

The lovebirds, take one

The lovebirds, take two

Ana and Adam cuddling up, with Shark Tooth Rock in the background

Ana and Adam's DIY cake topper - Ana is an owl biologist!  How perfect is this??

Ana and Adam being blissful :-)

Sisters and best friends - two lucky girls

The celebrants, with the Pacific Ocean behind them

Just one of the fantastic DIY touches Ana and Amber incorporated into their ceremony and reception

I think my favorite part of this breathtaking event is the final line of the joint ceremony: "Love creates family, and family creates love."  I couldn't agree more!  Congratulations to everyone, and thank you so much to Ana and Amber for sharing your special day with us! :-)

Double wedding teaser!

It's a first in Annabel & Ruby history - a fabulous DIY double wedding!  Ana and Amber are twin sisters who contacted me via Etsy last year and told me they were planning a gorgeous outdoor ceremony with their respective menfolk.

Each girl wore an Annabel & Ruby gown in my favorite pale ivory cotton sateen fabric, and you can see how luminous and gorgeous the fabric is outdoors - I just love the subtle pearl-like glow.  And of course, the equally luminous lovebirds are looking mighty fine themselves!  Amber's dress is a reproduction of the J. Crew Lucinda gown, and Ana's dress is a reproduction of the J. Crew Erika gown.  Full blog entry with TONS of eye candy coming soon - stay tuned!

DIY fabulous

It's been the summer of the Lydia dress!  Anna found my seersucker sweetheart version of the J. Crew Lucinda dress (named the Lydia dress after the bride who first requested it, Lydia) on Etsy, and immediately knew that it would be just right for the creative, intimate DIY-fabulous wedding she had planned.

Anna actually moved to Pittsburgh in the middle of her wedding planning process, so I got to do her fittings in person--hooray!  And I got a preview of all of her fantastic wedding craft projects, which were so brilliant.

Look at how gorgeous she is!  And I love the color palette--all warm sherbet orange and blush pink--totally unique and just beautiful.  Anna hand-embroidered the sash she is wearing, and made little shoe clips and hair combs to match!  Super duper crafty!

How absolutely lovely: intimate, personal, unique, and full of thoughtful detail.  Congratulations, you two! :-)

Carolina dreaming

One of my very first Etsy wedding dress commissions was from a lovely, creative bride named Lydia.  She happened to be living with her husband-to-be in one of my favorite places in the world: the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  It was Lydia's brilliant idea to make a version of the J. Crew Lucinda bridal gown in white cotton seersucker, and it turned out so beautifully! 

I had the pleasure of meeting Lydia and her fiance as they traveled through Pennsylvania, so I got to do her fitting in person--she was so sweet and warm and joyful.  Just a pleasure to work with!  After I sent the finished dress off to Lydia, my little business took off and things got busy and I wondered every once in a while how the wedding had gone...and then, lo and behold, many months later I found these fabulous pictures in my email inbox!

Doesn't everyone look like they are just blissfully happy?  I can see joy and contentment and fun and love radiating out of every face, not just the bride and groom.  That's the best kind of wedding!

Congratulations, lovebirds!  Thank you so much for sharing your special day with me. :-)