Sweet Orange Wedding: Inspiring Story, Budget Breakdown, and Rainy Day Magic
The inspiration for Hannah and Zac's sweet and pretty orange wedding came from the idea her grandpa had taught her when she was just a little girl. He was explaining the idea of marriage as he sliced an orange. She listened as he told her how the two halves of the cut orange made the whole. He described how he was not whole without her grandma. How sweet!
Hannah wanted that special story to be part of her special day, and thus her color palette was born. The pops of orange paired with the greenery of the silver dollar eucalyptus served as the focal point of the wedding. See all the orange details in the full gallery here, photographed by Lindsey Marie Photography.
Calm From The Storm
The morning of the wedding I woke up to the sound of thunder and a stormy sky. Something I didn't plan for. As my bridesmaids and I got ready in the bridal cottage the sounds of rain against the window gave me a sense of peace of walking down the aisle towards my soon to be husband!
The Rainy Bright Side
As the ceremony began the rain subsided giving the guests a small break from the July rainfall. As we said our vows under the dewy eucalyptus archway the clouds broke and as we were pronounced husband and wife the rain fell. It was something I could have never planned but made my wedding incredibly memorable. The oak trees and vineyards served as such a fresh and clean background, and the rainy day just added that extra touch! It was the perfect day.
Paperclip To The Rescue
If there was something I could have changed about my wedding it was to bring a mini sewing kit with me! I know I had read that somewhere but when the day came I didn't have one with me. It would have came in handy when a clasp on my dress broke and my coordinator had to fasten it with a paperclip. Luckily the paperclip held up the entire ceremony and reception!
Read on to see how much this sweet and pretty orange wedding cost, plus budgeting advice!! Please note that costs change as the years go by, and prices are subject to change. This is just one couple’s breakdown to give you a rough estimate on how much a wedding like this may cost you.
Dress and Accessories: $800
Venue: $1,500 (220 guests)
Food: $4,000
Photographer: $2,400
Flowers: $700
DJ: $450
Alcohol: $500
Rentals: $1,500
Décor and Misc: $1,000
Officiant: $300
Total: $12,400
When I started planning my wedding I picked my top three things I was willing to spend money on. That was, my photographer, food, and the venue. To me spending a little extra on a photographer you know is going to do a great job is well worth the expense. My wedding photos are some of my most cherished possessions. The food was my next priority. I wanted my guests to enjoy themselves and feel a little pampered during the reception. To this day I have guests telling me they wish they could eat my wedding dinner again. Lastly, but most importantly, my venue. I wanted a venue that would already be beautiful enough without décor that I could spend less money trying to dress it up the day of. My budget target for total wedding cost was $10,000 with a maximum spending no greater than $15,000. I ended up spending roughly $12,500 which ended up being under my actual budget. Advice to future brides, aim lower than your actual budget that way you have a little wiggle room.
- Bridesmaid Dresses: Adrianna Papell
- Flowers: Green Pumpkin Design
- Photographers: Lindsey Marie Photography
- Venues & Officiants: Milagro Farm Vineyards and Winery